Communications

(June 30, 2026) - Last week, the United States Senate officially introduced its version of the Farm Bill. The Senate’s version contains a variety of hospital-relevant provisions, including Senator Jerry Moran’s (R-KS) Rural Hospital Revitalization Act, which would provide zero-interest loans to eligible hospitals for the construction or modernization of their facilities. 

Additional proposals include:

• Directs the United States Department of Agriculture Secretary to prioritize rural health care investments for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 within the Distance Learning and Telemedicine program to projects supporting substance use disorder prevention services, treatment services, recovery services or any combination of those services; or provide mental or behavioral health services, health care facilities and childcare programs.
  
• Reserves at least 10 percent of business and industry guaranteed loan funding to support childcare and health care in rural areas.
• Establishes a rural health care facility technical assistance program to improve the long-term financial position and operational efficiency of eligible health care facilities in rural areas.

The House of Representatives passed its version of the Farm Bill this spring. Although it does not include some of these proposals, the two bills would likely be conferenced if the Senate moves forward, allowing these health care priorities to make their way into law.