Hinson Pushes Bipartisan Bill to Extend Key Hospital Program for Iowa’s Rural Communities

Image June 4, 2026 Press Release Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in cosponsoring the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization Act to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) for five years. Grinnell Regional Medical Center is one of several Iowa hospitals that benefits from the RCHD program, which supports rural hospitals and improves patient care by providing more reliable Medicare support. "Small rural hospitals are so important to the communities they serve, and the RCHD Program has helped keep many of them open for Iowans. This bipartisan effort will help strengthen rural hospitals and provide certainty for rural Iowans. Congress needs to get this extension across the finish line, and I’ll keep fighting for policies that protect and strengthen care for Iowa families.” — Congresswoman Ashley Hinson “The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration has been an important lifeline for participating Iowa hospitals, helping stabilize finances while ensuring patients can continue to access care close to home. For many communities, there simply isn’t another option nearby. The program’s structure provides the kind of predictability hospitals need to plan, invest, and keep serving Medicare patients. Extending it for another five years builds on what’s already working—supporting rural patients, strengthening local hospitals, and delivering value for the Medicare program.” — Chris Mitchell, Iowa Hospital Association President and CEO Background: The RCHD is specifically designed to boost the viability of rural “tweener” hospitals. RCHD has helped more than 50 rural hospitals keep their doors open for acute inpatient care close to home. The most recent performance data found new RCHD hospitals significantly improved their Medicare margins and had higher capital investments, resulting in stronger financial conditions and helping with staff retention. Participating hospitals are mostly paid using a reasonable cost-based methodology instead of the inpatient prospective payment system. Today, all 30 spots are being utilized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Led by Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), this bipartisan legislation was introduced alongside Representatives Jared Golden (D-ME-02), Mike Flood (R-NE-01), and Janelle Bynum (D-OR-05). This follows the recent passage of an identical Senate version led by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). The legislation builds on Hinson’s longstanding efforts to expand and strengthen rural healthcare access across Iowa, including helping to secure funding for hospitals and expanding access to maternal care. Check out more critical investments Rep. Hinson has delivered to Iowa’s Second Congressional District here . The full text of the bill can be found here . ###