Hickenlooper, Blackburn Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Rural Health Care

Rural Health Innovation Act establishes a grant program for rural health providers to increase staffing, hours, critical technology, and equipment

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Marsha Blackburn reintroduced their bipartisan Rural Health Innovation Act to increase access to health care in rural and underserved communities across the country.

"Rural health centers provide life saving care for Coloradans living in remote communities, yet too many clinics are battling to survive and stay open," said Hickenlooper. "Our bill invests in those clinics, equipping them with the resources and staff they need to continue saving lives."

"Rural Tennesseans and Americans face countless barriers to accessing quality health care in their communities," said Blackburn. "78 of Tennessee's 95 counties are considered rural, and addressing health care delivery challenges in rural America could mean the difference between life and death for some patients."

"It has never been more important to invest in rural health care infrastructure," said Jeff Tieman, president and CEO of the Colorado Hospital Association. "Across Colorado, nearly 70% of hospitals, and more than 80% of rural hospitals, are operating without sustainable margins, making it increasingly difficult to maintain services, recruit and retain a skilled workforce, and invest in the technology patients depend on. We strongly support targeted federal investments that help rural hospitals and clinics modernize infrastructure and expand access to care at a time when resources are increasingly strained."

Health centers in rural areas face unique obstacles - geographic isolation, workforce shortages, issues with workforce retention, lack of broadband access, and limited access to medical equipment and technology - which contribute to a higher mortality rate in underserved communities nationwide. Extreme pressure on rural health centers during the pandemic only exacerbated this rural health gap. In Colorado, there are 62 rural clinics that provide care to thousands of Coloradans.

This bipartisan legislation would establish two competitive federal grant programs to bolster rural health centers.

The first program would allocate funding to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to better provide for the community's urgent care needs. The second grant program would allocate funding to rural public health departments for expansion to meet urgent care and triage needs.

Together, the two grant programs work to close the gap in rural health care and give rural health centers the dependable funding they need for long-term financial stability.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

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