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HR 2493119th CongressIntroduced
Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025
Introduced: Mar 31, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] (R-Georgia)
Healthcare
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025 reauthorizes key rural health grant programs under the Public Health Service Act, specifically those related to Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grants and Rural Health Network Development Grants (and the broader set of programs referenced in the bill’s title). The bill adds requirements to ensure funds are used to help rural underserved populations and to involve these populations in project development, planning, and ongoing operations. It also extends the authorization period for these programs from 2021–2025 to 2026–2030. The text provided does not add new programs beyond these existing authorities, but it tightens how funds must be used and who must be involved.
Key Points
- 1Reauthorizes the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grants and Rural Health Network Development Grants (and related small provider quality improvement programs) under the Public Health Service Act.
- 2Adds requirements that grant funds be used to address the needs of rural underserved populations locally and involve these populations in project development and ongoing operations (outreach grants).
- 3For Rural Health Network Development Grants, requires use of funds to increase access via integrated health care networks for rural underserved populations and to involve these populations in planning, development, and ongoing implementation of the network.
- 4For outreach grants, emphasizes involvement of rural underserved populations in both the development and ongoing operation of projects.
- 5The authorization period is shifted from 2021–2025 to 2026–2030, effectively extending federal support for these programs.
Impact Areas
Primary: Rural underserved populations and rural communities seeking improved access to quality health care.Secondary: Rural health care providers, local health systems, and organizations that administer or participate in outreach and network development grants; small health care providers seeking quality improvement.Additional impacts: Potential improvements in access, care coordination, and community engagement in rural health planning; longer-term funding stability for the affected grant programs; administrative and reporting obligations to ensure funds meet the new requirement to involve underserved populations.
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