HR1417-119

2. Expansion and codification of the rural health care facility technical assistance program of the Department of Agriculture In lieu of any other authority under which the Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the Secretary) may provide technical assistance to any eligible health care facility, the Secretary shall establish, and maintain, directly or by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, a Rural Health Care Facility Technical Assistance Program (in this section referred to as the Program) to provide technical assistance and training, tailored to the capacity and needs of each eligible health care facility, to help eligible health care facilities in rural areas— identify development needs for maintaining essential health care services, and support action plans for operational and quality improvement projects to meet the development needs; better manage their financial and business strategies, including providing financial planning assistance and preparing long-term financial plans; and identify, and apply for assistance from, loan and grant programs of the Department of Agriculture for which the facilities are eligible. The goals of the Program shall be to— improve the long-term financial position and operational efficiency of the eligible health care facilities; prevent the closure of eligible health care facilities; strengthen the delivery of health care in rural areas; help eligible rural health care facilities better access and compete for loans and grants from programs administered by the Department of Agriculture; and continue the activities of the Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program in effect as of the date of the enactment of this subsection. The Secretary shall engage in outreach and engagement strategies to encourage eligible health care facilities to participate in the Program. In selecting eligible health care facilities to participate in the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to borrowers and grantees of the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service. The Secretary may also consider— the age and physical state of the health care facility involved; the financial vulnerability of the eligible health care facility, and the ability of the eligible health care facility to meet debt obligations; the electronic health record implementation needs of the health care facility; whether the eligible health care facility is located in a health professional shortage area or a medically underserved area; whether the eligible health care facility serves a medically underserved population; and such other criteria and priorities as are determined by the Secretary. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a written report describing the progress and results of the program conducted under this section, which should include— a brief description of each project to provide technical assistance to an eligible health care facility under this section, including— the name and location of the facility; a description of the assistance provided; a description of the outcomes for completed projects; the cost of the technical assistance; and any other information the Secretary deems appropriate; a summary of the technical assistance projects completed; a summary of the outcomes of the technical assistance projects; an assessment of the effectiveness of the Program; and recommendations for improving the Program. To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not more than $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. In this section: The term rural area has the meaning given the term in section 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)). The term development needs includes— constructing, expanding, renovating, or otherwise modernizing health care facilities; increasing telehealth capabilities; acquiring or upgrading health care information systems such as electronic health records; providing financial planning assistance and preparing long-term financial plan; and such other needs as the Secretary deems critical to maintaining health care services in the community in which an eligible health care facility is located. The term eligible health care facility means a facility that is located in a rural area and is— a hospital (as defined in section 1861(e) of the Social Security Act); a psychiatric hospital (as defined in section 1861(f) of such Act); a long-term care hospital (as defined in section 1861(ccc) of such Act); a critical access hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of such Act); a rural health clinic (as defined in section 1861(aa)(2) of such Act); a religious nonmedical health care institution (as defined in section 1861(ss)(1) of such Act); a sole community hospital (as defined in section 1886(d)(5)(C)(iii) of such Act); a rural emergency hospital (as defined in section 1861(kkk)(2) of such Act); a home health agency (as defined in section 1861(o) of such Act); or a community health center (as defined in section 330 of the Public Health Service Act). The term health professional shortage area has the meaning given the term in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act. The term medically underserved area has the meaning given the term in section 330I(a)(5) of the Public Health Service Act. The term medically underserved population has the meaning given the term in section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act.