Sen. Moran Secures Federal Resources for Kansas Rural Hospitals in FY26 Appropriations Bills

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - a senior member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations - secured more than $7 million in federal investments for Kansas rural hospitals and community health centers in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations legislation approved by Congress and signed into law by the President.


"Rural hospitals, community health care centers and health care providers play a critical role in supporting small towns across Kansas," said Sen. Moran. "Access to medical care is often a deciding factor for many Kansans when determining whether they will remain in the rural communities they call home. These resources will support rural hospitals and community health centers across our state and help to improve outcomes, invest in new medical capabilities and bolster the critical work of rural providers in caring for Kansans."

These federal resources were included in the FY26 Agriculture appropriations bill, which has been signed into law, and the FY26 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill, which passed Congress and was signed into law yesterday.

Federal investments secured for Kansas:

• Salina Family Healthcare Center in Salina
• Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit
• Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute
• Phillips County Health Systems in Phillipsburg
• Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood

Additional items to note:

• Sen. Moran also helped secure increased federal investments for national programs that support rural hospitals in Kansas:

• • $4 million increase for the Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant (FLEX) Program.
  • $2 million increase for the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant (SHIP) Program.
    
    
  • • These programs are administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and provide assistance to small rural hospitals improve quality of care, support financial stability and maintain services within their communities.
      
      
• The legislation also extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities through 2027, maintaining access to these services for nearly two more years.
• • These federal resources were included in the FY26 LHHS appropriations bill that was approved by Congress and signed into law by the President yesterday.

# # #