Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization

Sponsored bySen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]IA· Introduced 30 April 2026

Open on Congress.gov

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Introduced

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Passed Chamber

Passed Both

Enacted

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Latest action

Held at the desk.

21 May 2026·2 months ago

Summary

Introduced in Senate · Updated 21 May 2026

Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization

This bill extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for an additional five years. The program tests the feasibility of cost-based reimbursement under Medicare for small rural hospitals that are too large to qualify for special payment as critical access hospitals.

The bill specifies that hospitals that participate in the program between December 30, 2024, and January 1, 2027, may continue to participate during the five-year extension period.

Timeline

9 actions

Message on Senate action sent to the House.
21 May 2026 · Floor
Received in the House.
21 May 2026 · Floor
Held at the desk.
21 May 2026 · Floor
Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
20 May 2026 · Discharge
Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
20 May 2026 · Committee
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
20 May 2026 · Floor
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
20 May 2026 · Floor
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
30 April 2026 · IntroReferral
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
30 April 2026 · IntroReferral
Introduced in Senate
30 April 2026 · IntroReferral
Introduced in Senate
30 April 2026 · IntroReferral

Sponsorship

16 cosponsors

Sponsor

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]IA

Cosponsors

Democrat744%
Republican850%
Independent16%

Republican:Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]NE
Independent:Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]ME
Republican:Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]KS
Democrat:Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]OR
Democrat:Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]NM
Republican:Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]AK
Republican:Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]AK
Republican:Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]ID
Republican:Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]OK
Republican:Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]NE
Democrat:Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]CO
Democrat:Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]CO
Democrat:Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]OR
Democrat:Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]NM
Republican:Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]MS
Democrat:Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]VT

Classification

Policy area

Health

Legislative subjects

Health care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth programs administration and fundingHospital careMedicareRural conditions and development

Committees

Finance Committee
Senate · Standing
- Referred To30 Apr 2026
- Discharged From20 May 2026

Cosponsor momentum

Cumulative over time

Track Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization as it moves through Congress