In rural Iowa, the local hospital is more than just a building — it’s a lifeline. Whether it’s a late-night emergency, a routine checkup, or welcoming a new baby into the world, families deserve care they can count on close to home.
Zoom out: Across rural Iowa, hospital leaders are raising the same issue: Workforce shortages are stretching staff thin, facility costs keep climbing, and payment systems designed in Washington too often leave rural hospitals footing the bill while big insurance companies post record profits.
What we’re doing: That’s why I’ve made it a priority to sit down with providers, nurses, and families on the front lines — including at Ottumwa Regional Health Center, where the message was clear: funding must flow better, workforce shortages are real, and rural hospitals can’t keep being asked to do more with less. ⬇️
What we’ve delivered for Iowa:
🏥 $209 million through the Rural Health Transformation Fund — with Iowa the first state in the nation to receive it
🛡️ Medicare protections that rural and low-volume hospitals depend on to keep their doors open
📱 Telehealth extended through 2027, helping patients see specialists without driving hours for care
What’s next: I’m leading the bipartisan Train More Nurses Act and Train More Primary Care Doctors Act to grow the workforce rural hospitals need, and fighting to expand maternal health access so new moms in rural Iowa can deliver safely close to home.
Bottom Line: The doctors and nurses serving in communities like Ottumwa show up for their neighbors every single day. I’ll keep fighting to make sure Washington shows up for them, too.