Reps. Mann, Tokuda Lead Bipartisan Coalition of Members in Strengthening Rural Health Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) led a bipartisan group of 13 of their colleagues in introducing the Modernizing Rural Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Utilization Act, the Rural Health Clinic Location Modernization Act, and the Rural Behavioral Health Improvement Act. The bipartisan package of legislation makes necessary updates and modifications to federal guidelines and regulations that will modernize access to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and improve services for more than 40 million Americans living in non-urban and rural communities. The bills also remove regulatory red tape and empower rural health care professionals to better meet the needs of the communities they serve.
“No American should have to sacrifice access to quality health care because of their zip code,” said Rep. Mann. “We should not force millions of Americans who live outside of urban areas to be limited in the care they can receive because of outdated laws and regulations that haven’t been reevaluated since the 1970s. The world looks vastly different than it did when Rural Health Clinics were established 47 years ago. As the representative of 60 primarily rural counties across the state of Kansas, I understand the unique challenge rural America faces in accessing quality health care. Our legislation removes these regulatory barriers and makes necessary modernizations that bring rural health care into the 21st century. Health care should not and cannot be a one-size-fits-all policy. These commonsense reforms better equip health care facilities and professionals to better meet the needs of the communities they serve.
“Rural Health Clinics play a vital role in delivering care to rural and underserved communities,” said Rep. Jill Tokuda. “That’s why I’m proud to team up with Rep. Mann to introduce these bipartisan bills, including the Rural Behavioral Health Improvement Act, to cut red tape and expand access to both behavioral and primary care. By modernizing old rules and empowering our health care workforce, we’re giving Rural Health Clinics the tools they need to deliver faster, better care to patients from Puna to Hanalei in Hawaii and throughout rural America.”
The Modernizing Rural Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Utilization Act aligns federal regulations with Physician Assistant (PA) and Nurse Practitioner (NP) state scope of practice laws, enabling them to fully apply their advanced clinical skills to improve patient care. RHCs are currently subject to more restrictive rules than most state laws regarding PA and NP scope of practice. As a result, regardless of whether states allow a full scope of authority for NPs and PAs, those working in RHCs cannot practice independently. The Modernizing Rural Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Utilization Act removes these barriers and allows these professionals to practice to their full extent regardless of their place of employment. Reps. Ryan Zinke (MT-01), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Cleo Fields (LA-06), John Mannion (NY-22), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Jim Costa (CA-21), David Valadao (CA-22), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Jim Baird (IN-04), and Lauren Boebert (CO-04) are original cosponsors of the Modernizing Rural Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Utilization Act.
The National Association of Rural Health Clinics, National Rural Health Association, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners support the legislation.
The Rural Health Clinic Location Modernization Act modifies the statutory language for RHC certification to include areas with fewer than 50,000 people, extending eligibility to facilities in moderately sized communities and improving health care access for underserved populations. Under the 1977 statute that established RHCs, facilities were required to be in communities with than 50,000 for eligibility purposes. However, the 2020 Census eliminated the “urbanized/non-urbanized” area definitions, limiting classification to urban with over 50,000 people or rural with under 5,000 people. The Rural Health Clinic Location Modernization Act eliminates the gray area left behind by this change, ensuring there is no uncertainty around future RHC eligibility.
The Rural Health Clinic Location Modernization Act is cosponsored by Reps. Ryan Zinke (MT-01), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Cleo Fields (LA-06), John Mannion (NY-22), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jim Baird (IN-04), Lauren Boebert (CO-04), David Valadao (CA-22), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Sam Graves (MO-06).
The National Association of Rural Health Clinics, the National Rural Health Association, and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health are supportive of the bill.
The Rural Behavioral Health Improvement Act removes restrictions that currently prevent RHCs from providing behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse treatment, to meet the needs of rural communities. Under current federal guidelines, these facilities can only offer up to 49% of their services as behavioral health. The Rural Behavioral Improvement Act removes the threshold on the amount of behavioral health services RHCs can provide while maintaining their certification. The legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Ryan Zinke (MT-01), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Cleo Fields (LA-06), John Mannion (NY-22), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jim Baird (IN-04), Lauren Boebert (CO-04), David Valadao (CA-22), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Sam Graves (MO-06).
The National Association of Rural Health Clinics, National Rural Health Association, American Psychological Association Services, National Association for Rural Mental Health, American Mental Health Counselors Association, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, National Association of Social Workers and National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC & Affiliates) support the Rural Behavioral Health Improvement Act.
“My focus on the Agriculture Committee goes beyond supporting the farm economy—it’s about uplifting rural communities across the Mohawk Valley and Central New York,” said Rep. Mannion. Too many Americans still struggle to access health care, which is why I’m proud to cosponsor bipartisan solutions that modernize Rural Health Clinics and expand critical behavioral health services. Equal access to health care must be a guarantee, not a privilege, no matter where you live.”
“Supporting rural hospitals in California’s 22nd Congressional District is one of my top priorities, and I know how critical it is for families to have access to quality care close to home,” said Rep. Valadao. “This bipartisan package modernizes outdated federal rules so rural providers and clinics can better serve patients, because empowering health care professionals is the best way to ensure communities get the care they deserve.”
“No one should be denied quality health care simply because they live in a rural community," said Rep. Thompson. "For too long, outdated rules and restrictions have stood in the way of families in places like the Mississippi Delta getting the care they need. These bills break down those barriers by giving nurse practitioners and physician assistants the ability to fully use their training, modernizing eligibility for rural health clinics, and expanding access to behavioral health services. Rural communities face unique challenges, but they deserve the same access to care as anyone else. This legislation is a commonsense step toward making sure health care works for every community.”
"The 5,700+ Rural Health Clinics across the country applaud the leadership of Rep. Mann and Rep. Tokuda on these important regulatory reduction bills," said Sarah Hohman, Director of Government Affairs for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. "Modernizing these aspects of the RHC statute from their 1977 origin reflects a commitment to the future of outpatient health care access in rural America."
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For more information on Rep. Mann visit www.mann.house.gov