Rural Hospital Revitalization Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9005
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-26T08:07:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Rural Hospital Revitalization Act of 2026 (H.R. 9005)
Purpose
This legislation aims to support rural hospitals by authorizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to offer temporary zero-interest loans for building new facilities or upgrading existing ones, helping maintain healthcare access in underserved rural areas.
Key Provisions
- Loan Program Creation: Adds a new Section 306B to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, directing the Secretary of Agriculture to issue zero-percent interest loans under the existing community facilities direct loan program.
- Eligibility Criteria: Hospitals must be located in counties with fewer than 20,000 residents; meet distance requirements from other hospitals (or qualify as critical access or rural emergency hospitals); have been licensed for at least 30 years; demonstrate community need and impact through an application; and show basic financial stability (with possible waivers).
- Prioritization: Loans prioritize hospitals in very low-density areas, those unable to afford standard loan terms, and those serving high percentages of Medicare, Medicaid, or uninsured patients.
- Loan Terms: Initial 5-year period at zero interest with principal repayment; followed by an assessment of the hospital's finances. If stable, the loan converts to standard community facilities rates without retroactive interest. Renewals of up to 5 years are available in cases of insufficient stability or high market rates (above 2.5%).
- Additional Support: Recipients can access technical assistance grants from programs like the Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program to improve operations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new category of temporary zero-interest financing specifically for rural hospital projects, which differs from the standard interest-bearing loans under the community facilities program.
- Establishes detailed eligibility, application, priority, and renewal rules tailored to hospitals, expanding the program's focus beyond general community facilities.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases administrative responsibilities for the USDA's rural development programs, including loan assessments, refinancing, and coordination with health agencies for technical assistance.
- Citizens: Could improve healthcare access and economic stability in rural communities by funding facility upgrades, potentially sustaining services like emergency care and primary health services.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders
- Eligible rural hospitals and their operators.
- Rural residents and communities relying on these facilities for healthcare.
- The USDA Secretary and related rural development offices.
- Patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or self-pay arrangements at these hospitals.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill operates within existing USDA loan authority and does not appear to raise constitutional concerns, as it amends an established program without altering core federal powers.
- It reflects a targeted approach to rural policy through bipartisan sponsorship, with no apparent conflicts with other federal laws.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Rural Hospital Revitalization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (13 pages)