(The Center Square) – After the signing of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July, a bipartisan group of 19 Ohio lawmakers plans to put more of a focus on rural health care in the state.
The Ohio House Rural Hospital Caucus, led by Reps. Kellie Deeter, R-Norwalk, and Meredith Craig, R-Smithville, want to take advantage of $50 billion in federal funds to protect and strengthen rural health care across the state.
“Keeping health care in our communities is vital,” Deeter said. “With new developments at the federal level and the creation of The Rural Health Fund, the time for the state of Ohio to act is now.”
The new caucus says rural hospitals are vital for regions across the state, providing emergency care, jobs and community well-being in places often hundreds of miles away from major metropolitan areas.
At the same time, rising costs, smaller reimbursements and global health crisis have stretched rural health care infrastructure to the limits.
“Year after year, rural hospitals consolidate or close,” Craig said. “It is time for the state to step up and find a way to help.”
Trump’s new budget bill contains the Rural Health Fund, a $50 billion allotment going to states to help support rural hospitals.
Ohio also created the Rural (Southern) Ohio Hospital Tax Pilot Program in its budget passed at the end of June.
The new caucus wants to push for sustainable funding, better access to care and improved recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in rural areas.
The caucus is Craig’s second health care push this summer.
In June, the House passed Craig’s bill that gives a nonrefundable tax credit for small employers that offer Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements to employees.
The arrangements were introduced under the first Trump administration. They work with the Affordable Care Act and Health Savings Accounts and allow employers to set aside tax-advantaged dollars for employees to buy individual plans that fit their needs.
The Senate has yet to take up the bill.
