Rural Emergency Hospital Program

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, keeping quantity and quality of healthcare in rural America is a constant responsibility of most Senators, because every Senator, even if you come from a high population State, you still have a lot of rural areas.

So one of the things that I have been interested in is keeping hospital services available in rural areas, even if they have a hard time keeping their beds as part of their hospital.

So, in December 2020, I was proud to sponsor and to pass into law the voluntary rural emergency hospital program under Medicare. CMS implemented this program 3 years later, in 2023.

The rural emergency hospital program allows rural hospitals to voluntarily right-size their healthcare infrastructure, while maintaining essential medical services for their rural communities. It gives these hospitals the flexibility to operate without hospital inpatient services, while still retaining a 24/7 emergency department, ambulance services, outpatient services, and more.

Today, 42 rural hospitals in 17 States have transitioned to a rural emergency hospital model and, hence, are still operating. Some States are still working to establish the necessary hospital licensing flexibility so that they can participate in this program.

Rural emergency hospitals have been beneficial for many rural communities, and I want to give you three examples.

In Friend, NE, going to the rural emergency hospital model has ``meant a lifeline'' for that community.

In Union Springs, AL, the rural emergency hospital model has allowed their hospital ``to remain open instead of leaving a void in the community.''

In Scotland, SD, their rural emergency hospital will ``enhance local health services.''

I will submit a longer list of examples of how rural emergency hospitals have benefited rural communities to date.

I look forward to more rural hospitals converting in the near future.

Given it has been 5 years since the program became law, I would like to better understand the challenges rural hospitals and communities face when considering rural emergency hospital programs. So I am pursuing getting that information because I am committed to ensuring the rural emergency hospital remains a viable tool for rural hospitals and their communities.

I recently sent letters to existing rural emergency hospital CEOs and other rural healthcare leaders to get this information. I look forward to their feedback and continuing to strengthen rural healthcare, and I will keep my constituents in Iowa and my Senate colleagues so informed.

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