Rural Health Innovation Act of 2025

This bill would boost health care in small towns by creating two new grant programs: one for clinics and one for local public health departments. Clinics could use funds to run walk‑in urgent care and serve as triage hubs for ambulance or air transport, with staff and basic equipment like labs, x‑ray machines, and heart monitors. Money could expand hours, help build or renovate facilities, and support other related needs. Grants would last up to five years, with up to $750,000 in the first year for new centers or $500,000 for existing ones, and up to $500,000 in years two through five; active clinics get priority. Taking part would not affect a clinic’s federal status, and a report after three years would track results like access and savings.

Local public health departments in rural areas could get separate five‑year grants, up to $500,000 per year, to add emergency care, triage and transport, primary care, and similar services. Funds can buy equipment, hire providers (including through academic partnerships), and do community outreach, with year‑two through year‑five amounts based on patients served. Only small shares can go to hiring (up to 3% each year) and to outreach in the first two years (up to 3%). The bill authorizes $25 million per year from 2026 through 2030 for each program .

• Who is affected: People in rural areas; federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics; local public health departments; health workers like nurse practitioners and physician assistants .
• What changes: New five‑year grants to expand urgent care, triage, transport, and primary care; funds for longer hours, building or renovation, equipment, limited hiring, and outreach .
• When: Grants run up to five years; a progress report is due three years after enactment; funding is authorized for 2026–2030 .