Sen. Josh Hawley Introduces Bill to Address Rural Healthcare Crisis
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., unveiled new legislation on Wednesday targeting the rural healthcare crisis in America. Emphasizing the urgency, Hawley stated that congressional intervention is needed to keep rural emergency rooms operational.
Hawley highlighted the alarming scarcity of emergency medical care in rural communities. “In Missouri alone, 12 rural hospitals with emergency rooms have closed in as many years,” he noted, adding that many existing facilities struggle financially.
This commentary comes as Hawley promotes the Rural Hospital Emergency Room Guarantee Act. The bill aims to halt the trend of rural hospital closures, described as occurring at a “breakneck pace.” Since 2005, nearly 200 rural hospitals across the U.S. have shut down. This has led to “widespread emergency-room deserts,” requiring some residents to travel over an hour for crucial medical services.
The situation in Missouri is particularly severe. Since 2014, 12 rural hospitals with emergency rooms have closed across the state. Nearly half of Missouri’s rural hospitals are currently operating at a loss, with about 20% facing immediate closure risks.
To address this, the proposed legislation intends to establish a dedicated 10-year funding stream managed by the Health Resources and Services Administration. If enacted, it would allocate a guaranteed $1 million annual distribution to eligible rural hospitals for emergency room expenses, adjusted for inflation and allotted quarterly. Additional funding would depend on a hospital’s unique geographical, financial, and patient-injury factors.
Hawley’s bill also proposes a one-time emergency payment of up to $250,000 for hospitals at imminent risk of closing. The funding initiative ensures that receiving hospitals will not lose eligibility for existing federal healthcare programs or grants.
Hawley is set to formally announce the Rural Hospital Emergency Room Guarantee Act at a news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday.