Senator Ricketts’ Weekly Column: Supporting Rural Healthcare

One way we can support the Good Life is by supporting rural healthcare. I am working with Senate Republicans and President Trump to strengthen healthcare and support rural communities.

As a part of the landmark One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), Congress made the largest ever investment in American rural healthcare. Over the next five years, grants from the new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program will support dependable care in rural communities. I am fighting to make sure our healthcare providers have the resources they need. Their important work should be supported.

Rural Nebraskans deserve a high standard of care. The OBBB supports that value. Half of the new $50 billion fund will be split equally between the states. This guarantees at least $100 million in new funds for rural Nebraska healthcare. That is available each year for the next five years. This will help rural facilities modernize. It will also increase healthcare accessibility. The OBBB supports rural communities.

The OBBB also provides $25 billion in grant funds. These will be allocated based on the greatest potential impact. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently began accepting applications. State government officials and teammates have until November to apply on CMS's website. CMS also recently approved Nebraska's State Directed Payment Plan. This plan is estimated to provide an additional $200 million annually for Nebraska hospitals. I will continue working to ensure Nebraska is well represented in healthcare funding opportunities.

The OBBB provides funding to make healthcare more effective and efficient. It supports our rural hospitals. These funds will facilitate the adoption of new and emerging technology. They will provide for recruitment, training, and acquisition. Rural hospitals will have new tools to emphasize prevention and chronic disease management. Administrators can prioritize data and tech-driven solutions to health problems. This will help health systems keep up with changing technologies. It will also reduce the cost burden of providing rural healthcare.

Regulations designed for urban centers don't work for rural Nebraska. The OBBB eliminates Biden's burdensome mandates that hurt rural healthcare facilities.

For example, the Biden administration mandated minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities. The regulation would require a registered nurse to be present 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In Nebraska, 80% of counties have fewer Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) than the national average. Nine Nebraska counties have no practicing RNs at all. In many cases, these facilities are already operating on razor-thin margins. Requiring 24/7 nursing may have forced Nebraska nursing homes to close. That would have devastated rural communities.

According to CMS, Biden's rule would've required 75% of nursing homes to increase staffing. One studyshowed facilities would need to hire more than 100,000 additional nurses and nurse aides. That would have cost facilities $6.8 billion. Nebraska facilities don't have that kind of money laying around. This would have limited access to care for seniors.

Rural healthcare providers and patients identified this problem for me. I made it a priority to fix. We reversed Biden's harmful rule by passing the OBBB. I appreciated hearing feedback from hospitals in Nebraska about what they'd need to succeed. The OBBB delivers on these needs.

I look forward to continued partnership. We are making sure our hospitals have what they need. We can collaborate to set them up for success in their communities.

My team and I are here to serve you. Contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224. You can also view my website at https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact.