Rural Health Innovation Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4204 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4204 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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2026 Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Mr. Hickenlooper, and Mrs. Hyde-Smith) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ 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 2026''. 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 health clinic.--The term `rural