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) Definition of rural health department In this section, 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 them 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 and services under this section; (2) a demonstration that the department has, on the date on which the application is submitted, a facility operating that is located 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) agrees to use such staff and equipment towards providing the services and 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 funds awarded through a grant under this section to a rural health department shall be in an amount that for a year does not exceed $500,000. (3) Considerations The Secretary shall determine the amount awarded to a rural health department through a grant under this section for a year in accordance with the following: (A) For the first year of the award, the amount shall be based on the amount the rural health department estimates for the cost of equipment and staffing needed to set up 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 award, the amount shall be based on the number of patients treated, and the type of treatment provided, by the 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 provide the services and 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 providing the services and activities described in subsection (b), such as laboratories, x-ray machines, and cardiac monitors; (B) hiring additional providers to provide the services and 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 described in paragraph (2)(A); and (C) providing outreach to the community regarding the services and activities of the rural health department as supported under this section. (2) Limitations (A) Partnerships Not more than 3 percent of the funds awarded through a grant under this section for a year may be used towards the rural health department entering into a partnership with an academic medical center to assist with the hiring described in paragraph (1)(B). (B) Community outreach For each of the first 2 years of a grant awarded under this section, not more than 3 percent of the funds may be used by the rural health department receiving the grant for the outreach described in 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 2027 through 2031..