Bills · HR 6240
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 6240Health
Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2025
INTRO NOV 20· LAST ACTION NOV 20
READING
11MIN
COSPONSORS
3
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because many rural hospitals in the U.S. are facing severe financial challenges and are at risk of closing, leaving millions of Americans without nearby healthcare access. If this bill becomes law, it could provide a lifeline to a limited number of these vulnerable hospitals, helping them maintain essential services in areas that often have higher poverty rates and fewer healthcare options.
If the bill doesn't pass, more rural hospitals could close, leading to longer travel times for emergencies, reduced access to specialists, and a decline in overall health outcomes for rural populations. By allowing states to waive the distance rule for specific struggling hospitals and requiring these hospitals to commit to long-term financial stability and new services, the bill aims to address both the financial crisis of rural hospitals and the critical need for local healthcare in underserved areas.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Restores state authority to waive the 35-mile distance rule for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation for certain hospitals.
This allows struggling rural hospitals that are close to another hospital but still vital to their community to receive enhanced Medicare payments.
PROVISION 02
Establishes specific eligibility criteria for hospitals to receive this waiver, including having two consecutive years of negative operating margins.
This targets the relief to the most financially vulnerable hospitals that need help to stay open.
PROVISION 03
Requires eligible hospitals to commit to a strategic financial plan and to establish or expand a new, high-demand service line, such as obstetrics or behavioral health.
This ensures the hospitals not only get financial help but also improve or add critical services for their communities.
PROVISION 04
Sets a national limit of 120 facilities and a state limit of 5 facilities that can receive this special CAH designation.
This limits the scope of the waiver, controlling costs and targeting relief to a specific number of areas.
PROVISION 05
Imposes a 9-year sunset on the authority for states to certify hospitals under this new waiver provision.
This creates a defined period for the program, allowing for future evaluation of its effectiveness and necessity.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 3
D· Virginia
YRS IN OFFICE
1
BILLS LED
73
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 3 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSNOV 20
Introduced in House
NOV 20
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 6240
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedNov 20, 2025
Last actionNov 20, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED NOV 20, 2025
House BillHR 6240Health
Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2025
INTRODUCED NOV 20, 2025· LAST ACTION NOV 20, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
11 min
COSPONSORS
3
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
