,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #abhb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #c1 #bjbe,mr4 ,rounds 7for himself and ,mr4 ,welch7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to codify the ,rural ,hospital ,technical ,assistance ,program of the ,department of ,agriculture4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rural ,development ,hospital ,technical ,assistance ,program ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,codification of the ,rural ,hospital ,technical ,assistance ,program of the ,department of ,agriculture 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,development needs ,the term development needs means-- 7,a7 constructing1 expanding1 renovating1 or otherwise modernizing health care facilities2 7,b7 increasing telehealth capabilities2 7,c7 acquiring or upgrading health care information systems1 such as electronic health records2 and 7,d7 such other needs as the ,secretary determines to be critical to maintaining health care services in the community in which an eligible hospital facility is located4 7#b7 ,eligible hospital facility ,the term eligible hospital facility means a facility that is-- 7,a7 7i7 a hospital 7as defined in section #ahfa7;e7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7e7772 7ii7 a psychiatric hospital 7as defined in section #ahfa7;f7 of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7f7772 7iii7 a long-term care hospital 7as defined in section #ahfa7;ccc7 of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7ccc7772 7iv7 a critical access hospital 7as defined in section #ahfa7mm77#a7 of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7mm77#a7772 7v7 a religious nonmedical health care institution 7as defined in section #ahfa7ss77#a7 of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7ss77#a7772 7vi7 a rural health clinic 7as defined in section #ahfa7;aa77#b7 of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7aa77#b7772 7vii7 a sole community hospital 7as defined in section #ahhf7;d77#e77;,d77iii7 of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acieww7d77#e77;,d77iii7772 7viii7 a rural emergency hospital 7as defined in section #ahfa7kkk77#b7 of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7kkk77#b7772 7ix7 a community health center receiving funding under section #ccj of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;b72 or 7x7 any other rural hospital1 as determined by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services2 and 7,b7 located in a rural area4 7#c7 ,health professional shortage area ,the term health professional shortage area has the meaning given the term in section #ccb7;a77#a77;,a7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;e7a77#a77;,a774 7#d7 ,medically underserved area ,the term medically underserved area has the meaning given the term in section #ccj;,i7a77#d7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;c-#ad7;a77#d774 7#e7 ,medically underserved population ,the term medically underserved population has the meaning given the term in section #ccj7;b77#c7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;b7b77#c774 7#f7 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,rural ,hospital ,technical ,assistance ,program established under subsection 7b74 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7#h7 ,rural area ,the term rural area has the meaning given the term in section #cdc7;a77#ac77;,a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aiia7;a77#ac77;,a774 7b7 ,establishment ,in lieu of any other authority under which the ,secretary may provide technical assistance to any eligible hospital facility1 the ,secretary shall establish1 and maintain1 directly or by grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement1 a ,rural ,hospital ,technical ,assistance ,program to provide technical assistance and training1 tailored to the capacity and needs of each eligible hospital facility1 to help eligible hospital facilities-- 7#a7 identify development needs for maintaining essential health care services1 and support action plans for financial1 operational1 and quality improvement projects to meet the development needs2 7#b7 better manage the financial and business strategies of the eligible hospital facilities2 and 7#c7 identify1 and apply for assistance from1 loan and grant programs of the ,department of ,agriculture for which the eligible hospital facilities are eligible4 7c7 ,goals ,the goals of the ,program shall be-- 7#a7 to improve the long-term financial position and operational efficiency of eligible hospital facilities2 7#b7 to prevent the closure of eligible hospital facilities2 7#c7 to strengthen the delivery of health care in rural areas2 and 7#d7 to help eligible hospital facilities better access and compete for loans and grants from programs administered by the ,department of ,agriculture4 7d7 ,program participation 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall engage in outreach and engagement strategies to encourage eligible hospital facilities to participate in the ,program4 7#b7 ,hospital selection ,in selecting eligible hospital facilities to participate in the ,program1 the ,secretary-- 7,a7 shall give priority to borrowers of loans and recipients of grants from the ,rural ,housing ,service1 the ,rural ,business-,cooperative ,service1 and the ,rural ,utilities ,service2 and 7,b7 may consider-- 7i7 the age and physical state of the hospital or clinic facilities involved2 7ii7 the financial vulnerability of the hospital or clinic facilities1 and the ability of the hospital or clinic facilities to meet debt obligations2 7iii7 the electronic health record implementation needs of the hospital or clinic facilities2 7iv7 whether the hospital or clinic is located in a health professional shortage area or a medically underserved area2 7v7 whether the hospital serves a medically underserved population2 and 7vi7 such other criteria and priorities as are determined by the ,secretary4 7e7 ,reporting requirements ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate a written report describing the progress and results of the ,program1 including-- 7#a7 a brief description of each project to provide technical assistance to an eligible hospital facility1 including-- 7,a7 the name and location of the facility2 7,b7 a description of the assistance provided2 7,c7 a description of the outcomes for completed projects2 7,d7 the cost of the technical assistance2 and 7,e7 any other information the ,secretary determines to be appropriate2 7#b7 a summary of the technical assistance projects completed2 7#c7 a summary of the outcomes of the technical assistance projects2 7#d7 an assessment of the effectiveness of the ,program2 and 7#e7 recommendations for improving the ,program4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section not more than #b1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe through #bjbi4