Supporting Access to Rural Community Hospitals Act of 2025

This bill makes it easier, for a short time, for some rural hospitals to qualify as “critical access hospitals” (CAHs) under Medicare. For one year, starting six months after the law takes effect, rural community hospitals that are in Medicare’s Rural Community Hospital Demonstration can be treated as CAHs, even if they don’t meet the usual distance rule during that window. CAHs receive special Medicare payment meant to support care in rural areas.

Today, to be a CAH, a hospital normally must be far from another hospital (over 35 miles, or 15 miles in mountain or secondary-road areas) and meet size limits like having no more than 25 acute care beds. The bill also updates related law so these demonstration hospitals can use the CAH option during the temporary period.

• Who is affected: Rural community hospitals in Medicare’s demonstration program, and the patients they serve.
• What changes: For one year, these hospitals can qualify as CAHs and get special Medicare payment, even if they don’t meet the usual distance rule .
• When: The one-year window begins six months after the law is enacted.