EXCLUSIVE: Hawley pushes new legislation to save rural emergency rooms from 'breakneck' closures

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., on Wednesday introduced new legislation aimed at combating America's rural healthcare crisis, telling Fox News Digital that Congress must intervene to keep rural emergency rooms open.

"Americans in rural communities across the country are confronted with a concerning shortage of access to emergency medical care," Hawley said. "In Missouri alone, 12 rural hospitals with emergency rooms have closed in as many years, and those that remain open are struggling to keep the lights on.

"Congress must act swiftly to protect the necessary emergency care hardworking rural families deserve."

Hawley's comments come as he pushes the Rural Hospital Emergency Room Guarantee Act, legislation aimed at saving rural hospitals from closing at a "breakneck pace."

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Since 2005, nearly 200 rural hospitals have shut down nationwide, a trend that is creating "widespread emergency-room deserts" and forcing some residents to drive an hour or more just to reach lifesaving emergency care, according to the senator’s office.

The situation is particularly dire in Hawley’s home state of Missouri, where 12 rural hospitals with emergency rooms have closed since 2014. 

Records show that nearly half of all rural hospitals in Missouri currently operate at a loss, with 10 hospitals, or roughly 20%, at "immediate risk of closure."

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To keep the lights on and emergency room doors open, the proposed legislation would establish a mandatory, 10-year dedicated funding stream administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, according to the senator’s office.

If the bill were to pass, eligible rural hospitals would receive a guaranteed baseline distribution of $1 million per year to cover normal emergency room operating expenses, which would be distributed on a quarterly basis and indexed for inflation, along with additional funding depending on a hospital's specific geographical, financial and patient-injury characteristics.

Participating rural hospitals facing an immediate risk of closure would also receive a one-time emergency payment of up to $250,000.

The senator’s office noted affected hospitals receiving the new guaranteed funding will not face negative impacts on their eligibility for any other federal healthcare programs, designations or grants.

Hawley is expected to announce the Rural Hospital Emergency Room Guarantee Act at a news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. ET Wednesday.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.