US SB4141

Secretary of Agriculture would provide 0% interest loans for the first 5 years to eligible rural hospitals for constructing replacement facilities or renovating existing facilities, with loan terms up to 40 years

Eligible hospitals must be located in counties with populations under 20,000, be at least 35 miles from the nearest hospital (or 15 miles in mountainous/secondary road areas), or be designated as critical access or rural emergency hospitals, and have been continuously licensed for at least 30 years

Priority given to hospitals serving areas with fewer than 6 inhabitants per square mile, those with at least 50% of patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or self-pay, and those requiring improvements not financially feasible at standard loan rates

After the initial 5-year 0% interest period, the Secretary assesses financial stability; hospitals with sufficient strength refinance at prevailing community facilities loan rates, while those lacking financial strength may apply for one 5-year renewal at 0% interest

Hospitals receiving loans are eligible for technical assistance grants through HRSA's Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program and USDA's Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program to support operational improvements