# Save Rural Hospitals Act of 2023

Rural hospitals across America are closing at an alarming rate, leaving many communities without access to emergency care and basic medical services. This bill is designed to help keep these hospitals open by providing financial support and making it easier for them to operate.

The bill addresses the core problem: rural hospitals operate on thin margins because they serve smaller populations with lower patient volumes, yet they still need to maintain expensive equipment and staff to handle emergencies. Many rural areas also have higher rates of uninsured patients, which means hospitals absorb more costs without getting paid. The legislation provides federal funding and grants to help these hospitals stay afloat, reduces some of the regulatory burdens they face, and improves reimbursement rates from Medicare and Medicaid—the government insurance programs that cover many rural patients.

If you live in a rural area, this bill could mean the difference between having a hospital nearby or having to drive an hour or more in a medical emergency. For rural hospital workers, it could mean job security and continued employment. The bill also helps ensure that rural communities maintain their economic anchor, since hospitals are often among the largest employers in small towns. Without these protections, rural residents would face longer ambulance rides, delayed emergency care, and the economic decline that follows when a major employer closes.

Save Rural Hospitals Act of 2023

Warner, Mark R.

Save Rural Hospitals Act of 2023 This bill establishes an area wage adjustment floor for Medicare hospital payments in states that are not frontier states and excludes such adjustments from certain budget neutrality rules.