H.R. 8967 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Ways and Means, May 21, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExtends rural hospital payment test program
This bill keeps a demonstration program running for five more years. The program tests whether a different payment method works well for small rural hospitals—specifically, paying them based on their actual costs rather than flat rates. Hospitals that join the program between late 2024 and early 2027 can stay in it through the extension.
How it affects you
If you live in a rural area and rely on a small hospital for care, this extension means your hospital might continue testing this cost-based payment approach, which could affect how it operates and what services it offers. The program directly benefits the hospitals that participate, while the broader impact on rural healthcare depends on what the program learns over the next five years.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, May 21, 2026)
Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization
This bill extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for an additional five years. The program tests the feasibility of cost-based reimbursement under Medicare for small rural hospitals that are too large to qualify for special payment as critical access hospitals.
The bill specifies that hospitals that participate in the program between December 30, 2024, and January 1, 2027, may continue to participate during the five-year extension period.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionH. R. 8967
A BILL
Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization
Sponsor: Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA-4) · Introduced May 21, 2026 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 21, 2026: “Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.”