Sponsors (4)
The bill focuses CDC resources on rural health to expand access, telehealth, and local support, at the cost of higher federal spending and risks of uneven implementation and administrative overlap.
Rural residents and patients with chronic conditions: improved access to prevention and care through better-targeted CDC rural health efforts and expanded telehealth policies.
Local providers, hospitals, and state health systems: increased federal grants and technical assistance to support rural health improvement and service delivery.
Public health system and policymakers: stronger rural-focused research and faster dissemination of evidence to inform policies and interventions.
Taxpayers: likely higher federal spending to staff a new CDC office and fund grants, increasing budgetary costs.
Rural communities: uneven implementation and grant distribution could leave some areas with little benefit.
State governments and health systems: potential overlap or administrative friction with HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy if coordination is insufficient.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes an Office of Rural Health at CDC to coordinate rural health research, policies, telehealth, outreach, and grants while coordinating with HRSA.
Creates an Office of Rural Health inside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) led by a director chosen by the CDC Director. The office will serve as CDC’s primary point of contact for rural health, coordinate rural health research and outreach, develop policies and programs (including telehealth) to improve rural care and reduce disparities, and award grants and contracts to provide technical assistance while coordinating with HRSA to avoid duplication. The new office focuses on improving access, prevention, education, and evidence-based interventions for rural populations and collecting better information about rural health challenges and disparities.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Office of Rural Health, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 30, 2025 by Michael Guest · Last progress April 30, 2025