Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Health Care in Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, alongside Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), introduced theImproving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize programs to improve access to health care in rural communities.
“Across Virginia and throughout the U.S., rural communities often face unique challenges that lead to reduced or even nonexistent access to lifesaving medical care,”said Kaine.“Republicans in Congress just passed a bill to pay for tax cuts for the uber-wealthy at the expense of everyday Americans, and our rural health providers are now grappling with severe budget cuts that could force them to close their doors. Now more than ever, I urge my colleagues to join us in lifting up our rural communities by passing this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize key federal grants that support their access to health care.”
The introduction comes shortly after President Donald Trump signed the Republican budget megabill thatwill devastate hospitals, health care access, and Medicaid coverage in rural communities. Kaine strongly opposed and voted against the legislation.
Rural communities face unique challenges in accessing lifesaving medical services, including geographic isolation, workforce shortages, transportation barriers, facility closures, and inadequate insurance coverage. These barriers result in unmet health care needs, which translate into a43 percent higher mortality ratefor rural residents compared to their urban and suburban counterparts.
To combat these startling gaps, theImproving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Actreauthorizesthe following three programsunder thePublic Health Service Actthrough Fiscal Year 2030 (FY30):
As a member of the Senate HELP Committee, Kaine has long advocated for improved health care access and health infrastructure in rural communities. In February, Kaine introduced the bipartisanRural Hospital Support Act, legislation to prevent rural hospital closures by extending and modernizing critical Medicare programs. In 2024, Kaine introduced thePrimary Care Team Education Centers Act, legislation to support the education and clinical training of new primary care professionals to address the health workforce shortage across America, including in rural communities.
Full text of the legislation is availablehere.
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