OPINION:
I think everyone can agree that rural America doesn’t get much attention until something goes wrong. When hospitals close, factories shut down, or young families pack up and move away, Washington always seems to notice a few years too late.
Drive across my district in eastern and southeastern Ohio and you’ll see this story play out in real time. You’ll find tight-knit communities filled with hard-working people: farmers, small business owners, nurses, and teachers who love their towns and want to stay. But when someone gets sick or injured, it’s not a quick trip across town to the hospital. It’s often a 60-mile drive, each way.
That’s why I joined Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., in introducing the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025. Because this isn’t just a health care issue for rural Americans, it’s a survival issue.
This bill makes sure that the small hospitals and clinics holding rural communities together don’t fall through the cracks of Washington’s one-size-fits-all policies. It gives them the flexibility, funding, and tools they need to modernize and recruit doctors, nurses, and specialists to serve where they’re needed most, and keeps the lights on in struggling emergency rooms.
Fixing a System that Forgot Rural America
For too long, rural hospitals have been treated as an afterthought, forced to compete with massive urban systems while operating on razor-thin budgets. More than 140 rural hospitals have closed in the past decade and, as a result of the Biden administration’s skyrocketing costs and regulatory overload, that number is still climbing.
It’s not because rural doctors stopped caring or rural families stopped trying; it’s because Washington forgot what it’s like to live outside of a major city.
The Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act fights back by giving rural hospitals stable funding and improving quality of care in the communities they serve. It also expands telehealth services for seniors and veterans who can’t always travel, increases the availability of preventive services for rural Americans, and provides rural clinics the support they need to continue caring for their patients.
We worked directly with local providers to get this right. I sat down with hospital administrators, nurses, and paramedics who told me what they needed: less bureaucracy, more flexibility, and a system that treats them like partners instead of statistics.
Protecting Patients and Taxpayers
As a conservative, I believe every dollar taken from the American taxpayer should have a purpose. This bill doesn’t grow bureaucracy, it grows results. It sends money straight to hospitals and health centers, not into new offices or federal programs. It includes strict oversight to ensure transparency and accountability, because the American people deserve to know where their money goes.
And it does all of this without raising taxes.
When I talk to people back home in Columbiana County or Noble County, they’re not asking for handouts. They’re asking for fairness from a government that meets them halfway. Rural Americans do their part every day. They deserve a health care system that does the same.
A Bipartisan Mission with a Moral Purpose
This bill has support on both sides of the aisle because it’s built on something we should all agree on. Every American deserves access to quality care, no matter their zip code. That should not be controversial.
We can debate politics all day in Washington, but we shouldn’t be debating whether a mother can safely deliver her baby close to home or whether a veteran can see a doctor without driving two hours. These are moral questions.
When rural hospitals close, it’s not just health care that suffers, but also the heart of the community. The school loses its nurse. The local businesses lose workers. The town loses part of its soul.
That’s why this fight matters.
Moving Forward
The Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025 is about restoring something simple: trust between Washington and the people it serves. It’s about reminding our leaders that rural America matters and the people who grow our food, fuel our economy, and defend our country deserve the same respect and access to care as anyone else.
I’ll keep fighting until they get it. Because when rural America calls for help, Washington should answer.
• Rep. Mike Rulli has represented Ohio’s 6th Congressional District since 2024. A dedicated husband and father, Mike lives in Salem with his wife, Kelly, and their two children. His mission remains clear: to fight for policies that strengthen families, support small businesses, and revitalize the Ohio River Valley.
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