Miller, Sewell Introduce Rural Hospital Flexibility Act of 2025

Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) reintroduced the Rural Hospital Flexibility Act. This bipartisan legislation strengthens the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program so Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) have the resources they need to improve quality, modernize services, and adapt to new care models.

"Rural hospitals are the backbone of health care in communities like mine, but too many are struggling to keep their doors open. It is critical to families in rural West Virginia and across the country to provide CAHs with the adequate funding needed so folks can access care close to home. Strengthening healthcare in rural hospitals helps these facilities meet patients' needs, track outcomes, and deliver vital behavioral health and substance use services. The Rural Hospital Flexibility Act of 2025 reauthorizes the FLEX program to ensure rural communities are supported with policies that reflect their unique healthcare needs," said Congresswoman Miller.

"At a time when Alabama's rural hospitals are facing enormous financial challenges, we must do all we can to ensure that patients in rural communities can access the lifesaving services they need. Reauthorizing the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program will help Critical Access Hospitals in Alabama keep their doors open and improve the quality of care they deliver to patients. I thank Congresswoman Miller for her partnership and urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation," said Congresswoman Sewell.

"The reauthorization of the FLEX-SHIP program is critical to sustaining rural healthcare in West Virginia. These grants give our Critical Access Hospitals access to essential education and technical support that directly drives our Top-10 national Medicare Beneficiary Quality performance. Most rural hospitals simply could not access this level of training on their own, and these programs ensure every CAH, especially those in West Virginia, have the tools to strengthen operations and improve care for the communities they serve," said Jim Kaufman, President & CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association.

"The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Representatives Miller and Sewell for leading the reintroduction of the Rural Hospital Flexibility Act. NRHA is proud to have bipartisan, bicameral support for this legislation that continues to improve hospital-based healthcare access for rural communities. This bill reauthorizes the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program and Small Hospital Improvement Program, which play an integral role in helping rural hospitals improve their financial status and enhancing quality of care in rural communities' access to sustainable healthcare," said Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association

"The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) applauds Congresswoman Miller and Congresswoman Sewell for introducing this strong bipartisan bill. Congress advancing this bill will provide stability to the FLEX grant program which provides West Virginia and all 50 states with funding needed to support Critical Access Hospitals in rural America throughout the U.S," said Tammy Norville, CEO of the National Organizations of State Offices of Rural Health

Background
- More than half, over 55% of the population in West Virginia lives in rural communities.
- The Rural Hospital Flexibility Program permits states to use funds that support CAHs through training, providing technical aid, and increasing access to high quality health care services in rural communities to help strengthen the rural health care system.
- CAHs are hospitals located in rural areas that hold 25 inpatient beds and are either more than 35 miles from the nearest hospital or more than 15 miles in mountainous terrains or only secondary roads.
- West Virginia has 21 CAHs located throughout the state.