Rural Health Innovation Act of 2019

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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Health Innovation Act of 2019 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 330N. Rural health center innovation awards program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered rural area The term covered rural area (A) that is located not less than 30 minutes by automobile from the nearest emergency department, using the speed limit of the most direct route to such emergency department; or (B) from which an individual cannot access an emergency department by road. (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (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. (3) Federally qualified health center The term Federally qualified health center (4) Rural area The term rural area (5) Rural health clinic The term rural health clinic (b) Establishment (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall establish a grant program to be known as the Rural Health Center Innovation Awards program (A) serves individuals in a covered rural area as a walk-in urgent care center and as a triage center or staging facility for necessary air or ambulance transport to an emergency department; and (B) includes— (i) professional clinical staff, including physicians, physician interns, residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives, or other health care providers providing walk-in urgent care and emergency triage; and (ii) resources, including laboratories, x-ray machines, and cardiac monitors. (2) Permissible uses of funds The funds of a grant awarded under this section may be used to— (A) expand the hours of operation of a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic; (B) pay for the costs of construction and renovation of a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic; or (C) carry out any other activity for the purposes described in paragraph (1). (c) Applications and selection (1) In general An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. (2) Start up centers and clinics An application submitted under paragraph (1) by an eligible entity that is not a Federally qualified health center, or a rural health clinic, on the date on which the entity submits the application under paragraph (1) shall include in such application a demonstration of the costs of the equipment and staffing needed to establish the center or clinic. (3) Expedited review The Secretary shall establish a process for expediting the review of any application submitted under paragraph (1) for a grant under this section from an eligible entity that plans to use the funds of the grant to serve individuals in a covered rural area in which a hospital has closed in the 7 years preceding the date on which the entity submitted the application. (d) Grant period and amounts (1) Period Each grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years. (2) Amount (A) In general A grant awarded under this section to an eligible entity shall not exceed— (i) for the first year of the grant— (I) $500,000 if the entity is a Federally qualified health center, or a rural health clinic, on the date on which the award is made; and (II) $750,000 if the entity is using the grant to establish a Federally qualified health center or a rural health clinic; and (ii) for each of the third through fifth years of the grant, $500,000. (B) Considerations In determining the amount of a grant under this section for an eligible entity for each year after the first year in which the grant is awarded, the Secretary shall, subject to subparagraph (A)(ii), consider the number of patients treated, and the type of treatment provided, by the entity in the prior year. (e) Reporting (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall report to the committees described in paragraph (2) on the grant program under this section, including— (A) an assessment of the success of the program, challenges with respect to the program, and any action for regulatory flexibility or legislative authority needed to improve the program; (B) any savings to Federal health care programs; (C) any increase in access to care; and (D) any increase in utilization of health services in covered rural areas. (2) Committees The committees described in this paragraph are— (A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Finance, of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Ways and Means, of the House of Representatives. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. . 3. Rural health department enhancement program Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b 330O. Rural health department enhancement program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered rural area The term covered rural area (2) Rural health department The term rural health department (b) Establishment The Secretary, acting through the Administrator 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 covered 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 covered 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 covered 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 2020 through 2024. .

Summary: Rural Health Innovation Act of 2019 This bill establishes two grant programs to increase access to emergency care in remote rural areas where the nearest emergency department is at least 30 minutes away or inaccessible by road. First, the bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide grants to establish or maintain federally-qualified health centers or rural health clinics located remote rural areas. Eligible health centers or clinics must (1) employ physicians and professional clinical and support staff; (2) have laboratories, x-ray machines, and cardiac monitors on site; and (3) provide walk-in urgent care, and staging for transport to an emergency department. Further, the bill requires HRSA to provide grants to rural health departments that are located in remote rural areas to support the provision of emergency services, triage and transport to emergency departments, primary care services, or other similar services. Eligible rural health departments must (1) have a nursing staff and medical equipment, (2) agree to provide such emergency or similar services, and (3) submit an estimated cost for the first year of staffing and equipment.