Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
Ensuring Rural Health Care Access for Military and Tribal Families Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — 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 is known as the Ensuring Rural Health Care Access for Military and Tribal Families Act. It amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow states to designate certain facilities as critical access hospitals under the Medicare program. Beginning October 1, 2026, a state may designate a facility as a critical access hospital without following the usual criteria if the facility meets at least 3 out of 5 specific new criteria. These new criteria focus on hospitals that serve individuals covered under the TRICARE program, veterans in rural areas, or facilities located on a reservation. Additionally, these designated facilities may establish distinct part units for psychiatric and rehabilitation services without the standard limitation on the number of beds.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Directly enhances healthcare access and hospital designations for rural residents.
- Scored +7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
Directly supports rural healthcare facilities serving veterans enrolled in the patient enrollment system.
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
Expands critical access hospital designations for facilities serving rural, military, and tribal populations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 (adding subparagraph (F)(i)(I) through (V)): This provision allows a state to designate certain facilities as critical access hospitals if they meet three or more specific criteria, such as delivering health care to TRICARE-covered individuals and veterans in rural areas, deriving a portion of their revenue from TRICARE, or being located on a reservation. This is positive because it helps ensure that rural areas serving military families, veterans, and tribal members have access to necessary hospital designations.
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Section 2 (adding subparagraph (F)(ii)): This provision allows a qualifying facility to establish distinct part units for psychiatric and rehabilitation services without regard to the standard bed limitations. This is beneficial because it gives these facilities more flexibility to provide needed mental health and rehabilitation care without being restricted by traditional bed caps.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based on the provided text, there are no explicitly stated negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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 enhances healthcare access and hospital designations for rural residents. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Directly supports rural healthcare facilities serving veterans enrolled in the patient enrollment system. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Explicitly includes criteria for hospitals located on tribal reservations. Would retired people be better off under this? — Supports healthcare availability for older populations living in rural regions. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Improves local hospital access which benefits Medicare-eligible seniors in rural areas. Would women be better off under this? — Includes provisions considering labor and delivery revenue derived from TRICARE.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Expands critical access hospital designations for facilities serving rural, military, and tribal populations. Does this help veterans get medical care? — The legislation specifically aids rural healthcare facilities serving veterans and military families. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Qualifying facilities are permitted to establish psychiatric distinct part units without standard bed limitations. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill allows certain rural facilities serving military and tribal families to be designated as critical access hospitals under Medicare.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Supports rural hospitals that serve veterans and TRICARE beneficiaries.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Focuses heavily on improving healthcare infrastructure in rural communities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Grants states discretion to designate certain facilities as critical access hospitals based on specific criteria.
- 5/21/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Rick LarsenDemocrat · Washington