Rural Health Innovation Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 1480 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1480 To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a rural health center innovation awards program and a rural health department enhancement program, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 21, 2025 Mr. Kustoff (for himself and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a rural health center innovation awards program and a rural health department enhancement program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Health Innovation Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. RURAL HEALTH CENTER INNOVATION AWARDS PROGRAM. Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 330Q. RURAL HEALTH CENTER INNOVATION AWARDS PROGRAM. ``(a) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an entity that-- ``(A) is a Federally qualified health center; ``(B) is a rural health clinic; or ``(C) agrees (as a condition of receiving a grant under this section) to establish such a center or clinic, including a hospital that agrees (as such a condition) to convert to a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic. ``(2) Federally qualified health center.--The term `Federally qualified health center' has the meaning given such term in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act. ``(3) Rural area.--The term `rural area' means any area that is rural, within the meaning of such te