Ciscomani Announces $2 Million in Preliminarily Secured Funding for Rural Health Care, Benefiting Benson Hospital and Chiricahua Community Health Center

Benson, AZ - U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani today saw firsthand how the $2 million federal investment he preliminarily secured for Benson Hospital will expand access to critical health care in rural Cochise County.

The $2 million preliminarily secured for Benson Hospital is part of 20 other Community Project Funding requests totaling $42.7 million that Ciscomani has advocated for in this year's House appropriations bills to strengthen communities across Arizona's Sixth Congressional District.

The funding for the Benson Hospital Emergency Department and Laboratory Modernization Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill, which Ciscomani voted to advance out of the Appropriations committee. The funding is set to expand the hospital's emergency department and construct a modern laboratory to meet increasing demand for medically underserved parts of Arizona's Sixth Congressional District.

"As Arizona's sole appropriator in either the House or Senate, I have made it my mission to relentlessly advocate for Southern Arizona by listening to the needs of our communities and fighting to bring those priorities to Washington," Rep. Ciscomani said after touring Benson Hospital. "This $2 million investment will be a game-changer for Cochise County and the families who rely on Benson Hospital for critical care. I was proud to advocate for this funding on the House Appropriations Committee and to see firsthand how this investment will strengthen the hospital, reaffirming why it was worth fighting for. Hardworking Arizonans drive every Community Project Funding request I champion, ensuring taxpayer dollars are invested where they will have the greatest impact. I will continue working to strengthen rural health care and ensure Southern Arizona families have access to quality care close to home."

The congressman's efforts are praised by local rural health care leaders.

"Congressman Ciscomani has been a strong partner in helping TMC Health meet the growing health care needs of our community. His advocacy at the federal level will help us expand our emergency department and construct a modern laboratory at Benson Hospital, strengthening access to critical care and essential health infrastructure in our rural community. We are grateful for his leadership and continued commitment to rural hospitals in our region," said Julia Strange, Vice President of External Affairs and Brand for TMC Health.

"Benson Hospital plays a vital role in providing emergency and specialty care to residents across southeastern Arizona. As a designated Critical Access Hospital and Level IV Trauma Center, we serve not only local families, but also residents, travelers, and communities along a major highway corridor between Tucson and New Mexico. Congressman Ciscomani understands how important this access to care is for our rural communities, and we appreciate his commitment to helping us expand our emergency department and build a modern laboratory to meet the growing needs of our local community," said Gary Kartchner, CEO of Benson Hospital.

Ciscomani's visit to Benson and the Chiricahua Community Health Center also highlighted his broader efforts to expand access to quality care in medically underserved communities. The FY2027 House LHHS Appropriations bill, which Ciscomani voted to advance, includes $55 million for primary care training programs in rural and underserved areas, including $5 million to support medical school partnerships with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

​Ciscomani is also a co-sponsor of the CONNECT for Health Act of 2025, which would permanently expand access to telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries and ensure that FQHCs are reimbursed by Medicare for providing those services. Together, these efforts reflect Ciscomani's ongoing commitment to strengthening rural health care and ensuring families have care close to home in Southern Arizona.

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