Bill would waive distance rule for struggling rural hospitals
In committeeH.R. 6240Latest action
Sponsor: Eugene Simon Vindman · Representative · VA
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2025
119th Congress
Topics: Health care
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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A new bill lets up to 120 struggling rural hospitals skip the 35-mile rule to get higher Medicare payments.
50-second read · 5 questions answered below
What does this do?
This bill lets states waive the usual 35-mile distance rule so certain struggling rural hospitals can qualify as "critical access hospitals" and get better Medicare payment rates. Hospitals must meet criteria like serving a high-poverty or health-shortage area, having lost money two years running, submitting a financial recovery plan, and committing to add or expand a needed service. The program is capped at 120 hospitals nationwide (5 per state) and expires after 9 years.
Who does it affect?
This mainly affects rural communities at risk of losing their local hospital, as well as the Medicare program itself.
Why does it matter?
Expanding the number of critical access hospitals could increase Medicare spending, so the bill requires and MedPAC studies on cost and effectiveness. Hospitals that fail to report progress could lose their special status.
What does it cost, and who pays?
- Could raise Medicare spending
- and MedPAC must study costs
- No dollar figure specified
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedNov 20, 2025
- House committeeYou are here · Nov 20, 2025
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.