119-hr1480

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1480 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 1480

 To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a rural health 
 center innovation awards program and a rural health department 
 enhancement program, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 February 21, 2025

Mr. Kustoff (for himself and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following bill; 
 which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a rural health 
 center innovation awards program and a rural health department 
 enhancement program, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Health Innovation Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. RURAL HEALTH CENTER INNOVATION AWARDS PROGRAM.

 Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 330Q. RURAL HEALTH CENTER INNOVATION AWARDS PROGRAM.

 ``

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an 
 entity that--
 ``
        (A) is a Federally qualified health center;
 ``
        (B) is a rural health clinic; or
 ``
            (C) agrees (as a condition of receiving a grant 
 under this section) to establish such a center or 
 clinic, including a hospital that agrees (as such a 
 condition) to convert to a Federally qualified health 
 center or rural health clinic.
 ``

    (2) Federally qualified health center.--The term 
 `Federally qualified health center' has the meaning given such 
 term in 

section 1861

    (aa) of the Social Security Act.
 ``

    (3) Rural area.--The term `rural area' means any area 
 that is rural, within the meaning of such term as used by the 
 Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and 
 Services Administration for purposes of determining eligibility 
 for grants or services, including any area that is rural within 
 such meaning as used by such Office for fiscal year 2025 or any 
 area that is rural within such meaning as amended for a 
 subsequent fiscal year.
 ``

    (4) Rural health clinic.--The term `rural health clinic' 
 has the meaning given such term in 

section 1861

    (aa) of the 
 Social Security Act.
 ``

    (b) Establishment.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
 Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health 
 Resources and Services Administration, shall establish a grant 
 program to be known as the `Rural Health Center Innovation 
 Awards program' to award grants to eligible entities that 
 submit an application in accordance with subsection
            (c) to 
 enable such entities to establish or maintain a Federally 
 qualified health center or rural health clinic that--
 ``
        (A) serves individuals in a rural area as a walk-
 in urgent care center and as a triage center or staging 
 facility for necessary air or ambulance transport to an 
 emergency department; and
 ``
        (B) includes--
 ``
            (i) professional clinical staff, 
 including physicians, physician interns, 
 residents, nurse practitioners, physician 
 assistants, nurse midwives, or other health 
 care providers providing walk-in urgent care 
 and emergency triage; and
 ``
            (ii) resources, including laboratories, 
 x-ray machines, and cardiac monitors.
 ``

    (2) Permissible uses of funds.--The funds of a grant 
 awarded under this section may be used to--
 ``
        (A) expand the hours of operation of a Federally 
 qualified health center or rural health clinic;
 ``
        (B) pay for the costs of construction and 
 renovation of a Federally qualified health center or 
 rural health clinic; or
 ``
            (C) carry out any other activity for the purposes 
 described in paragraph

    (1) .
 ``
            (c) Applications and Selection.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under 
 this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at 
 such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
 the Secretary may reasonably require.
 ``

    (2) Start up centers and clinics.--An application 
 submitted under paragraph

    (1) by an eligible entity that is not 
 a Federally qualified health center, or a rural health clinic, 
 shall include a demonstration of the costs of the equipment and 
 staffing needed to establish the center or clinic.
 ``

    (3) Consideration of overlap.--In the case an eligible 
 entity submits an application under paragraph

    (1) that proposes 
 to serve an area that is served by another eligible entity 
 through a grant under this section, the Secretary may consider 
 whether an award to the eligible entity serving such same area 
 can be justified based on the unmet need for additional 
 services in such area.
 ``

    (4) Priority.--In selecting recipients of grants under 
 this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible 
 entity that is operating as a Federally qualified health 
 center, or a rural health clinic, on the date on which the 
 entity submits the application under paragraph

    (1) .
 ``
            (d) Grant Period and Amounts.--
 ``

    (1) Period; renewal.--Each grant awarded under this 
 section--
 ``
        (A) shall be for a period of 5 years; and
 ``
        (B) may be renewed.
 ``

    (2) Amount.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The amount of a grant awarded 
 under this section to an eligible entity shall not 
 exceed--
 ``
            (i) for the first year of the grant--
 ``
            (I) $500,000 if the entity is a 
 Federally qualified health center, or a 
 rural health clinic, on the date on 
 which the award is made; and
 ``
            (II) $750,000 if the entity is 
 using the grant to establish a 
 Federally qualified health center or a 
 rural health clinic; and
 ``
            (ii) for each of the second through fifth 
 years of the grant, $500,000.
 ``
        (B) Considerations.--In determining the amount of 
 a grant under this section for an eligible entity for 
 each year after the first year in which the grant is 
 awarded, the Secretary shall, subject to subparagraph
        (A)
            (ii) , consider the number of patients treated, and 
 the type of treatment provided, by the entity in the 
 prior year.
 ``

    (e) Reporting.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
 enactment of this section, the Secretary shall report to the 
 committees described in paragraph

    (2) on the grant program 
 under this section, including--
 ``
        (A) an assessment of the success of the program, 
 challenges with respect to the program, and any action 
 for regulatory flexibility or legislative authority 
 needed to improve the program;
 ``
        (B) any savings to Federal health care programs;
 ``
            (C) any increase in access to care; and
 ``
            (D) any increase in utilization of health 
 services in rural areas.
 ``

    (2) Committees.--The committees described in this 
 paragraph are--
 ``
        (A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
 and Pensions, and the Committee on Finance, of the 
 Senate; and
 ``
        (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the 
 Committee on Ways and Means, of the House of 
 Representatives.
 ``

    (f) Rule of Construction.--No entity receiving a grant under this 
section shall lose status as a Federally qualified health center, or a 
rural health clinic, on account of carrying out any activities under 
this section.
 ``

    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030.''.

SEC. 3. RURAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.

 Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.), as amended by 

section 2, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 330R. RURAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.

 ``

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Rural area.--The term `rural area' has the meaning 
 given the term in 

section 330Q

    (a) .
 ``

    (2) Rural health department.--The term `rural health 
 department' means a local public health department that is 
 located in a rural area.
 ``

    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of 
the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services 
Administration, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to rural 
health departments that submit an application in accordance with 
subsection
            (c) to enhance such departments and enable such departments 
to provide individuals in rural areas with emergency services, triage 
and transport to emergency departments, primary care services, and 
other services similar to services provided by emergency departments.
 ``
            (c) Applications.--A rural health department seeking a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may reasonably require, including--
 ``

    (1) an indication of the estimated cost of the equipment 
 and staffing needed by the department for the first year of the 
 award to set up the activities under this section;
 ``

    (2) a demonstration that the department has, on the date 
 on which the application is submitted, a facility operating in 
 a rural area; and
 ``

    (3) a demonstration that, on the date on which the 
 application is submitted, the department--
 ``
        (A) has a nursing staff and medical equipment; 
 and
 ``
        (B) intends to use such equipment and staffing 
 toward carrying out the activities under this section.
 ``
            (d) Grants.--
 ``

    (1) Annual awards.--The funds awarded through a grant 
 under this section to a rural health department shall be 
 awarded on an annual basis for each of 5 years.
 ``

    (2) Maximum amounts.--The amount of a grant under this 
 section for a year shall not exceed $500,000.
 ``

    (3) Considerations.--The Secretary shall determine the 
 amount awarded through a grant under this section for a year in 
 accordance with the following:
 ``
        (A) For the first year of the grant, the amount 
 shall be based on the amount the rural health 
 department estimates for the cost of equipment and 
 staffing needed to establish and implement the 
 activities and services supported under this section, 
 as specified in the application under subsection
            (c) .
 ``
        (B) For the second through fifth years of the 
 grant, the amount shall be based on the number of 
 patients treated, and the type of treatment provided, 
 by the rural health department in the prior year.
 ``

    (e) Use of Funds.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--A rural health department receiving a 
 grant under this section shall use the funds awarded through 
 the grant to carry out the activities described in subsection

    (b) at a facility that is located in a rural area, including 
 by--
 ``
        (A) obtaining additional medical equipment and 
 resources necessary for carrying out the activities 
 described in subsection

    (b) , such as laboratories, x-
 ray machines, and cardiac monitors;
 ``
        (B) hiring additional providers to carry out the 
 activities described in subsection

    (b) , such as 
 physician interns, residents, nurse practitioners, 
 physician assistants, and nurse midwives, which hiring 
 may be through a partnership with an academic medical 
 center; and
 ``
            (C) providing outreach to the community regarding 
 the activities of the rural health department carried 
 out using funds provided through a grant under this 
 section.
 ``

    (2) Limitations.--Of the funds awarded to a rural health 
 department under this section--
 ``
        (A) for each year of the grant, not more than 3 
 percent of such funds may be used to carry out 
 paragraph

    (1)
        (B) ; and
 ``
        (B) for each of the first two years of the grant, 
 not more than 3 percent of such funds may be used to 
 carry out paragraph

    (1)
            (C) .
 ``

    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030.''.
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