Sioux City Times

Two bills spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) aimed at keeping rural hospitals functional and maintaining access to telehealth services via phone have successfully passed the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Feenstra expressed his satisfaction with the development, stating, “Protecting access to affordable, reliable healthcare in rural Iowa is a top priority for me in Congress. It’s why I’m glad that two bills that I introduced to support our rural communities passed the House Ways and Means Committee.” He further explained that these legislative proposals would provide vital financial aid to rural hospitals, particularly those on the brink of closure, and extend telehealth services over the phone for seniors and rural communities with limited broadband connectivity.

The Rural Hospital Stabilization Act is one of these bills. This act seeks to authorize the Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program through 2029, offering struggling hospitals—especially those located in extremely rural areas—the opportunity to enhance their financial stability and continue providing healthcare services while expanding their service capacity. The legislation gives priority to rural hospitals, especially those with smaller patient capacities or those most at risk of shutting down. It also stipulates that these funds can be used for renovations, training programs, hiring initiatives, compensation increases, and equipment purchases.

The second bill is the Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act which aims to make Medicare's coverage of audio-only telehealth services permanent. The current Medicare waiver—which expires on December 31st, 2024—allows CMS to reimburse providers for patient evaluation, management services, and behavioral health services conducted over the phone.

Full texts of both acts are available online: The Rural Hospital Stabilization Act [HERE] and the Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act [HERE].