Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2301
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-08: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 153.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-05T21:35:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation reauthorizes and updates programs under the Public Health Service Act to support rural health care services, with a focus on underserved populations.
Key Provisions
- Short title: "Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025."
- Amends Section 330A(e) to require that Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grants be used, as appropriate, to address health care needs of rural underserved populations and involve those populations in project development and operations.
- Amends Section 330A(f) to require that Rural Health Network Development Grants be used, as appropriate, to increase access to quality care through integrated networks for rural underserved populations and ensure their involvement in planning and implementation.
- Extends authorization of appropriations for the programs from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds explicit requirements for grant funds to prioritize and involve rural underserved populations in outreach and network development activities.
- Replaces the prior authorization period (2021–2025) with a new five-year period (2026–2030).
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Directs the Director (within the Health Resources and Services Administration) to incorporate population-specific criteria when awarding grants.
- On citizens: Aims to expand access and involvement for rural underserved populations in health care projects.
- No effects on international relations are addressed in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Rural health care providers and networks.
- Rural underserved populations and local communities.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (specifically the Health Resources and Services Administration).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill makes targeted amendments to existing grant authorities without introducing new regulatory frameworks or altering constitutional allocations of authority.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-08: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 153.
- 2025-09-08: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy without amendment. Without written report.
- 2025-09-08: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy without amendment. Without written report.
- 2025-07-30: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-07-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-07-16: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-16 — PDF (3 pages)
- Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-08 — PDF (4 pages)