Rural health department enhancement program

Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.), as amended by section 2, is further amended by adding at the end the following: 330R. Rural health department enhancement program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Rural area The term rural area has the meaning given the term in section 330Q(a). (2) Rural health department The term rural health department means a local public health department that is located in a rural area. (b) Establishment The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to rural health departments that submit an application in accordance with subsection (c) to enhance such departments and enable such departments to provide individuals in rural areas with emergency services, triage and transport to emergency departments, primary care services, and other services similar to services provided by emergency departments. (c) Applications A rural health department seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including— (1) an indication of the estimated cost of the equipment and staffing needed by the department for the first year of the award to set up the activities under this section; (2) a demonstration that the department has, on the date on which the application is submitted, a facility operating in a rural area; and (3) a demonstration that, on the date on which the application is submitted, the department— (A) has a nursing staff and medical equipment; and (B) intends to use such equipment and staffing toward carrying out the activities under this section. (d) Grants (1) Annual awards The funds awarded through a grant under this section to a rural health department shall be awarded on an annual basis for each of 5 years. (2) Maximum amounts The amount of a grant under this section for a year shall not exceed $500,000. (3) Considerations The Secretary shall determine the amount awarded through a grant under this section for a year in accordance with the following: (A) For the first year of the grant, the amount shall be based on the amount the rural health department estimates for the cost of equipment and staffing needed to establish and implement the activities and services supported under this section, as specified in the application under subsection (c). (B) For the second through fifth years of the grant, the amount shall be based on the number of patients treated, and the type of treatment provided, by the rural health department in the prior year. (e) Use of funds (1) In general A rural health department receiving a grant under this section shall use the funds awarded through the grant to carry out the activities described in subsection (b) at a facility that is located in a rural area, including by— (A) obtaining additional medical equipment and resources necessary for carrying out the activities described in subsection (b), such as laboratories, x-ray machines, and cardiac monitors; (B) hiring additional providers to carry out the activities described in subsection (b), such as physician interns, residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse midwives, which hiring may be through a partnership with an academic medical center; and (C) providing outreach to the community regarding the activities of the rural health department carried out using funds provided through a grant under this section. (2) Limitations Of the funds awarded to a rural health department under this section— (A) for each year of the grant, not more than 3 percent of such funds may be used to carry out paragraph (1)(B); and (B) for each of the first two years of the grant, not more than 3 percent of such funds may be used to carry out paragraph (1)(C). (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030..