Congressman Kustoff Introduces Rural Health Agenda
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08) introduced the Rural America Health Corps Act, with Congresswomen Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), and the Rural Health Innovation Act, with Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH). These two critical pieces of legislation are part of a larger bicameral, bipartisan Rural Health Agenda being introduced with Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). The Rural Health Agenda will work to improve access to and the quality of healthcare in rural communities across the United States.
"The Rural Health Agenda is an essential step forward in our effort to alleviate the healthcare challenges families in West Tennessee face every day," said Congressman Kustoff. "These important pieces of legislation will help increase investment in our rural healthcare centers, incentivize doctors and medical personnel to practice and plant roots in rural communities, and ensure urgent healthcare needs are met across our nation. Thank you to Senator Blackburn, and my colleagues in the House of Representatives, for working with me to introduce this package that will encourage and strengthen access to good-quality healthcare for rural Americans."
“These bills will allow rural health care facilities to expand their hours of operation and hire additional medical providers. They will also incentivize more health professionals to work in rural health facilities in exchange for forgiving medical school loans. As I meet annually with community leaders across all 95 counties in Tennessee, finding bipartisan solutions to improve access to rural healthcare is a priority,” said Senator Blackburn.
“More often than not, rural communities face arduous healthcare challenges, specifically concerning healthcare delivery,” said Congresswoman Harshbarger. “Rural communities across America, especially those in East Tennessee, face the burdens of tight budgets and healthcare staffing shortages. The Rural America Health Corps Act will alleviate these strains by providing incentives to medical personnel who practice in rural areas and bring much needed relief to communities throughout Tennessee.”
“Every American deserves access to high-quality health care — no matter where they live. But, a shortage of health care professionals in rural communities continues to impact folks in Central and Southern Illinois,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “The Rural America Health Corps Act would help our communities recruit and retain essential health care providers. Thank you to Rep. David Kustoff, Rep. Diana Harshbarger, Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Marsha Blackburn for coming together across the aisle to improve access to care in underserved communities.”
“Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care, regardless of where they live,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “I am proud to reintroduce the Rural Health Innovation Act to close the health care gap and ensure no family is left without the care they need. This bill can help expand access to care for families living in rural communities throughout New Hampshire.”
Additional Information:
Rural America Health Corps Act:
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) typically provides $50,000 in loan repayment awards for a 2-year service commitment to attract clinicians to serve in communities with shortages of health professionals. However, only one-third of NHSC placements are in rural communities and after completing this 2-year commitment, many NHSC members leave for higher-paying jobs in other areas. The Rural America Health Corps Act will incentivize more health professionals to serve and plant roots in rural communities by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a demonstration program as part of the National Health Service Corps to provide payments on the principal of and interest on eligible education loans for eligible individuals.
Click here to read the full text of the bill.
Rural Health Innovation Act:
The Rural Health Innovation Act will strengthen access to care in rural areas by incentivizing communities to leverage their existing resources to provide for the community’s urgent care needs. The bill would establish a competitive grant program allowing Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to increase staffing resources, increase hours of operation, acquire additional technology and equipment, and pay for construction costs. This bill would also establish a competitive grant program to allow rural health departments to serve the walk-in urgent care needs for a rural community and serve as a triage center and staging facility for necessary air or ambulance transports to area emergency departments, obtain additional medical equipment, hire additional personnel, and provide public health outreach.
Click here to read the full text of the bill.
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