Randy Feenstra (R-IA)· Introduced May 21, 2026

Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization

H.R. 8967 · House bill Health

A Republican bill with 10 Democratic cosponsors · See all 21 cosponsors

Last activity May 21, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

In committee

Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.

The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.

Its path through Congress

Introduced
In Committee

What this bill would do

This bill, known as the ``Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization'', aims to extend the existing demonstration program. It proposes changing the current extension period from 15 years to 20 years. This change involves amending various subsections of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. Additionally, the bill includes a rule for hospitals that were not original participants in the demonstration. These provisions ensure that certain rural community hospitals can participate under specific conditions.

Yes· 3 of 6

Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Directly supports rural residents by extending the rural community hospital demonstration program.
Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
Extends the rural community hospital demonstration program by five years to maintain health services in rural areas.
Scored +6
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
Benefits older adults in rural communities by ensuring continued access to local hospital care.

The opposite

No question was scored the opposite.

Who it would affect, and how

Potential Positive Impacts for People

Extended Program Duration: By striking the 15-year extension period'' and inserting a 20-year extension period'' (Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)(1)), the bill provides a longer timeframe for the rural community hospital demonstration program.
Opportunities for New Hospital Participation: The bill includes a new subparagraph (C) in Section 2(b)(2) which allows the Secretary to apply certain provisions to rural community hospitals that were not original participants. This applies to hospitals participating in the program between December 30, 2024, and January 1, 2027.

Potential Negative Impacts for People

No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Groups and Interests Ranking

Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.

Demographic And Interest Groups: Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Directly supports rural residents by extending the rural community hospital demonstration program. Would retired people be better off under this? — Helps retirees living in rural areas maintain reliable access to nearby healthcare facilities. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Benefits older adults in rural communities by ensuring continued access to local hospital care.
Healthcare: Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Extends the rural community hospital demonstration program by five years to maintain health services in rural areas. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — Extends and expands the rural community hospital demonstration program under Medicare.
Environment Energy And Infrastructure: Does this invest in rural communities? — Supports rural infrastructure by ensuring continued demonstration program funding for rural hospitals.