Blackburn’s bipartisan bill fills rural healthcare gap

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on July 22 sponsored legislation that would establish a rural health center innovation awards program and a rural health department enhancement program to prioritize urgent care needs in America’s rural areas.

“Rural Tennessee communities know all too well that when hospitals close, they will be left without medical care when emergencies arise,” Sen. Blackburn said. “Filling the rural healthcare gap must be a priority.”

Sen. Blackburn introduced the bipartisan Rural Health Innovation Act of 2021, S. 2450, with original cosponsor U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) to create the two five-year grant programs, which would be administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Community-Based Division.

“With the support of Senator Hickenlooper, the Rural Health Innovation Act will employ a collaborative federal, state and local approach to provide urgent care solutions for rural areas in the Volunteer State and across America,” said Sen. Blackburn.

One grant program under the bill would help establish Federally Qualified Health Centers and rural health clinics capable of meeting each community’s urgent care and triage needs. Grants would be limited to $500,000 for existing facilities and $750,000 for startup facilities, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Blackburn’s office.

The other grant program created under S. 2450 would expand rural health departments to meet urgent care and triage needs, with grants limited to $500,000. Communities must have an existing health department with a government-funded building, some nursing staff, and medical equipment, the summary says.

To be eligible for either grant program, communities would have to be rural and located at least 30 minutes from the nearest emergency department, according to the bill summary, and communities that have lost a hospital in the last seven years would have priority.

“Emergency services are vital to rural communities and grants to help rural providers purchase equipment and pay essential staff will enhance health outcomes in our most rural communities,” said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association, who supports the bill.

The legislation has been referred to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for consideration.