Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization passed the Senate 20 days after introduction and awaits a vote in the House
IntroducedApr 30, 2026
Reported—
Passed one chamberMay 20, 2026
Passed both—
Law—
What it changes · CRS summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service [2]. 74 words.
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.
Context
- Committees
- Senate Finance Committee
- Policy area
- Health: 122 of 9,357 bills became law, 113th–118th (1.3%)
- Sponsor
- 19 of 426 bills enacted since 2013
- Text versions
- 2, from introduced in senate to engrossed in senate · 337 words
- Subjects
- Health care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth programs administration and fundingHospital careMedicareRural conditions and development
- Latest action
- May 21, 2026: Held at the desk.
- Records
- Congress.gov · Bill text
Exhibit 1Passage odds band at each stage, rated when the bill reached it [4]
Related bills · 1
Each bill appears once, under its strongest link. 1 in all.
Identical or companion · 1
- 119th H.R. 8967 Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization R · Introduced
Exhibit 2Articles naming the bill per day, last 90 days, US sources [3]