Supporting Access to Rural Community Hospitals Act of 2025

This bill makes it easier, for a short time, for some rural hospitals to get “critical access hospital” status under Medicare. Critical access hospitals get special Medicare payments to help small, rural facilities stay open and serve their communities. For one year, certain rural community hospitals that took part in a federal test program can qualify, even if they don’t meet the usual distance rules from another hospital. The one-year window starts six months after the law takes effect.

Why this matters: Rural hospitals often struggle to keep their doors open. Letting more of them qualify for critical access status can bring steadier funding, which can help protect local ERs, inpatient care, and other services closer to home.

• Who is affected: Rural community hospitals in a Medicare test program, and the patients who rely on them.
• What changes: For one year, these hospitals can be treated as critical access hospitals, even if they’re not far enough from another hospital under the usual rules.
• When: The option begins 6 months after the law is enacted and lasts for 1 year.