Sen. Marshall secured $418 million for rural health in the FY26 Consolidated Appropriations Act, extending telehealth flexibility, the Medicare-Dependent Hospital program, the low-volume hospital adjustment, and expanded rural residency training slots. The combination is designed to keep Critical Access Hospitals operating in counties where the next facility is often an hour or more away. Kansas has 82, the most in the country.
Appropriations · February 4, 2026