HR4272-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act.

2. Improving rural health care access For fiscal years 2026 through 2031, in selecting recipients of direct loans or grants for the development of essential community facilities under section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)), the Secretary of Agriculture shall give priority to entities eligible for the direct loans or grants to develop— health care facilities; or mental or behavioral health facilities, including certified community behavioral health clinics described in section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (42 U.S.C. 1396a note; Public Law 113–93). An eligible entity referred to in subsection (a) that receives a direct loan or grant pursuant to this section may use the direct loan or grant funds to— provide medical supplies; increase telehealth capabilities, including underlying health care information systems; support staffing needs, subject to the condition that the eligible entity shall not use more than 25 percent of the direct loan or grant funds for this purpose; or renovate or remodel closed health care facilities. For fiscal years 2026 through 2031, the Secretary of Agriculture shall not make any national reprioritizations within the Community Facilities direct loan and grant programs under section 608 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2204b–2).