Memphis Standard

U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Maggie Hassan, John Barrasso, and Catherine Cortez Masto have introduced the Rural Hospital Flexibility Act. This bipartisan bill aims to permanently reauthorize and modernize the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program. The program provides funding to states for rural hospitals, aiding in training, technical support, and equipment to enhance healthcare services.

The initiative supports Critical Access Hospitals—small facilities with fewer than 25 beds located over 35 miles from another hospital or more than 15 miles away in areas with challenging terrain or secondary roads.

Senator Blackburn stated, "For over 25 years, the FLEX program has been instrumental in supporting rural hospitals and healthcare providers, ensuring access to quality care for millions of Americans." She emphasized that the new act would modernize the program to include quality improvement and innovative care models.

Senator Hassan highlighted the importance of supporting rural hospitals for all Granite Staters to access high-quality healthcare. "The Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program has helped hospitals in New Hampshire improve the health care that patients receive," she said.

Senator Barrasso noted that Wyoming's rural hospitals understand their community needs best. "Rural hospitals use this vital program to provide specialized staff training, update technological equipment, and improve the quality of care for patients," he remarked.

Senator Cortez Masto expressed her commitment to reauthorizing the program to ensure Nevadans have access to quality healthcare regardless of location. "I’ll never stop fighting to keep communities in every corner of the Silver State healthy," she affirmed.

Ralph Alvarado from Tennessee's Department of Health praised the FLEX program as crucial for supporting Critical Access Hospitals with resources needed for improving healthcare access and operations.

The New Hampshire Office for Rural Health also expressed satisfaction with continued support for this essential program serving rural states. Alan Morgan from The National Rural Health Association thanked the senators for their efforts in reauthorizing a program vital for critical access hospitals nationwide.