OPINION:
In Washington, healthcare debates often focus on insurance plans, reimbursement rates and federal spending. In rural America, the conversation is often much simpler: Will there be a hospital nearby when you need one?
For decades, rural communities across our nation have watched hospitals close their doors. These closures have forced families to travel farther for care, placed greater burdens on emergency services, and weakened local economies. While rural hospital closures have become an unfortunate reality in many parts of the country, Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District has not lost a hospital during my time in Congress. Preserving access to healthcare in our rural communities has been one of my highest priorities because I understand what these facilities mean to the people they serve.
Representing one of the more rural congressional districts in America has taught me that where a person lives should never determine the quality of healthcare they receive or the opportunities available to them. Rural families deserve the same access to care as those living in larger cities, and that belief has guided my work throughout nearly three decades in Congress.
That commitment has meant working directly with hospitals, healthcare providers and federal agencies to address challenges threatening the long-term viability of rural healthcare. In some cases, rural hospitals faced financial obligations that placed tremendous strain on already tight budgets. Working with federal partners, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I helped identify solutions that allowed hospitals to restructure or better manage loans they were struggling to repay. The goal was straightforward: keep the doors open and preserve access to care.
My commitment to rural healthcare has also gone hand in hand with efforts to expand rural broadband access. In today’s world, reliable internet service is essential infrastructure. Broadband creates educational opportunities, supports small businesses, and connects rural communities to the broader economy. It is also transforming healthcare through telehealth, allowing patients to consult with specialists, manage chronic conditions, and receive care without traveling long distances. That is one reason I helped create the USDA ReConnect Program in 2017, expanding broadband access in underserved rural communities. People should not be limited in their opportunities simply because they live on a gravel road.
This issue is also personal.
My parents spent their lives in my hometown of Haleyville, Alabama, population 4,271. And as they grew older, they relied on the services provided by our local hospital. It has long been a lifeline, providing access to doctors, nurses, emergency care, and other essential services close to home. That reality became deeply personal when my father suffered a stroke in 2010. Because he was taken to the hospital during the “golden hour,” he received prompt treatment and made a full recovery. His experience reinforced what so many rural residents already know: having quality healthcare nearby can make all the difference when every minute counts.
That is why I have continued to advocate for policies that strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure and support the providers who serve these communities.
Earlier this year, I was proud to secure and advance the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program through the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. As Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, I worked to establish this initiative because I recognized the growing financial pressures facing rural hospitals nationwide.
Administered through the Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Resources and Services Administration, the program provides direct financial assistance to eligible rural hospitals to help maintain and strengthen essential healthcare services.
Our work is not stopping there. The Fiscal Year 2027 Labor-HHS funding bill, advanced by the subcommittee, includes significant increases for key rural health initiatives, including the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, Rural Residency Planning and Development programs, and Rural Health Care Services Outreach grants. It also increases funding for the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program from $25 million to $100 million.
Whether it is preserving a local hospital, expanding telehealth through broadband, or helping providers navigate financial challenges, the goal remains the same: ensuring rural families have access to the services they need to live healthy and productive lives.
As Congress debates healthcare policy, we must remember that access to care means little if there is no provider nearby. Strong rural healthcare systems are vital to the well-being of our communities and the strength of our nation. I will continue working to ensure the people of Alabama’s Fourth District have the healthcare services and infrastructure they need to thrive for generations to come.
• Rep. Robert Aderholt represents Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District and serves as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. Representing one of the more rural districts in the nation, he has spent nearly three decades working to strengthen rural healthcare, expand broadband access, and promote economic opportunity for communities across Alabama and rural America.
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