Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri has introduced new legislation to combat the rural healthcare crisis in America. Speaking to Fox News Digital, he emphasized the need for Congress to take action in order to keep rural emergency rooms operational.
Hawley noted that communities in rural areas face significant shortages in emergency medical care access. In Missouri, 12 rural hospitals with emergency rooms have closed over the past twelve years. The remaining facilities are struggling financially.
According to Hawley, action is needed to secure the essential emergency care that rural families deserve. He introduced the Rural Hospital Emergency Room Guarantee Act, which focuses on halting the rapid closure of rural healthcare facilities.
Since 2005, nearly 200 rural hospitals nationwide have shut down. This trend has resulted in extensive areas without nearby emergency room services, forcing some residents to travel more than an hour for lifesaving care.
In Missouri, specifically, since 2014, 12 rural hospitals have closed and nearly half of the state’s rural hospitals operate at a loss. Around 20% face an immediate risk of closure.
The proposed legislation aims to maintain these essential services by creating a dedicated 10-year funding stream managed by the Health Resources and Services Administration. Eligible rural hospitals would receive at least $1 million annually to cover standard emergency room costs. The funding would adjust for inflation and be distributed quarterly.
The act also provides for a one-time emergency payment of up to $250,000 for hospitals at immediate closure risk. Importantly, these funds would not affect a hospital’s eligibility for other federal healthcare programs.
Hawley plans to formally announce the Rural Hospital Emergency Room Guarantee Act during a press conference.
Reporter Alexandra Koch, who covers critical national events, contributed to the coverage of this development.