Bill gives rural hospitals $1 million per year for 10 years.

What it does

The bill sets up a 10-year program. Rural hospitals get $1 million each year to run emergency rooms. The money goes up each year. Hospitals can get up to 50% more based on patient need. Hospitals must use the money only for emergency room costs and staff pay.

Who it affects

Rural residents get better access to emergency care. Rural hospitals that run 24-hour emergency rooms get the payments.

One thing to notice

The program ends after 10 years. If Congress does not renew it, rural hospitals lose this money.

From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Jun 24, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Jun 24, 2026 — Referred to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Words to know

• rural hospitals — Hospitals in areas far from cities that serve small populations.
• emergency rooms — The part of a hospital that treats people with sudden, serious health problems.