The United States is facing a dire rural healthcare crisis, with a concerning shortage of access to emergency medical care in rural communities across the country.
According to a recent assessment, nearly 200 rural hospitals have shut down nationwide since 2005, creating "widespread emergency-room deserts" that force some residents to drive an hour or more just to reach lifesaving emergency care.
In Missouri alone, 12 rural hospitals with emergency rooms have closed in as many years, with nearly half of all rural hospitals currently operating at a loss.
Rural hospitals in Missouri are at a "breakneck pace" of closure, with 10 hospitals, or roughly 20%, at "immediate risk of closure," according to records.
Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is pushing for legislation aimed at saving rural hospitals from closing, and has introduced the Rural Hospital Emergency Room Guarantee Act.
The proposed legislation would establish a mandatory, 10-year dedicated funding stream administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Eligible rural hospitals would receive a guaranteed baseline distribution of $1 million per year to cover normal emergency room operating expenses, distributed on a quarterly basis and indexed for inflation, along with additional funding depending on a hospital's specific geographical, financial and patient-injury characteristics.
Participating rural hospitals facing an immediate risk of closure would also receive a one-time emergency payment of up to $250,000, without negatively impacting their eligibility for any other federal healthcare programs, designations or grants.
The senator's office noted that affected hospitals receiving the new guaranteed funding will not face negative impacts on their eligibility for any other federal healthcare programs, designations or grants.
Hawley is expected to announce the Rural Hospital Emergency Room Guarantee Act at a news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. ET Wednesday.
