Rural Hospital Flexibility Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 3250

119th Congress

Rural Hospital Flexibility Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Nov 20, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Maggie Hassan

D - NH

Cosponsors

3

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Health

Summary

This bill permanently reauthorizes Medicare's Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) program, which supports critical access hospitals, and expands it to include rural emergency hospitals, graduate medical education outreach, and quality improvement for behavioral health.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill permanently reauthorizes Medicare's Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) program, which supports critical access hospitals, and expands it to include rural emergency hospitals, graduate medical education outreach, and quality improvement for behavioral health.

Last updated: 12/27/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Permanently reauthorizes Medicare Rural Flex program from fiscal year 2011 forward
Adds support for rural emergency hospitals and critical access hospital conversions
Expands quality improvement to include behavioral health and substance use disorders
Creates grants for small rural hospitals to purchase technology and train staff
Adds outreach for graduate medical education residency positions at rural facilities
Distributes grants equally so each eligible small rural hospital receives same amount
Includes technical assistance, data analysis, and evaluation support grants

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Impacts critical access hospitals serving rural communities, rural emergency hospitals, small hospitals with fewer than 50 beds, rural residents dependent on local healthcare access, and medical residents considering rural practice.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Health

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

3250, 119th Congress (2025). "Rural Hospital Flexibility Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-s-3250