Restoring Rural Health Act

This legislation, known as the "Restoring Rural Health Act," amends the Social Security Act to provide specific treatment for certain Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). It establishes an exception for facilities that were designated as CAHs on January 1, 2024 . Under this provision, such hospitals can maintain their CAH status even if they are later found to be noncompliant with the federal distance requirement. This exception applies if the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues a non-compliance notice to the facility between December 1, 2024, and January 1, 2027 . The bill aims to ensure continued access to care in rural areas by preventing the loss of CAH designation for these specific facilities.