SB 22-200 Summary

• Creates the Rural Provider Access and Affordability Stimulus Grant Program to distribute $10 million in grants to qualified rural hospitals for modernizing infrastructure and expanding health care access.

• Allocates $4.8 million for health-care affordability projects (information technology modernization), $4.8 million for health-care access projects (telemedicine, extended hours, surgical care, behavioral health), and up to $400,000 for program administration.

• Establishes a 9-member advisory committee including state officials, rural hospital representatives (at least two from frontier counties), nonprofit organization representatives, and a rural health care consumer from the disabled community to guide program implementation.

• Requires the State Board to adopt rules by December 31, 2022, establishing methodology to identify qualified rural providers and reporting requirements, with guidelines including application procedures and grant eligibility criteria.

• Program sunsets on July 1, 2025, with any unspent funds reverting to the Economic Recovery and Relief Cash Fund; funds not expended by July 1, 2024, automatically revert.