Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in introducing The Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act to provide regulatory relief for rural health clinics. 

This bipartisan bill will provide necessary updates to modernize the 30-year-old law governing rural health clinics across the country. It gives these clinics guidance regarding the use of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, improves the ability of rural health clinics to provide mental health services, and removes outdated lab requirements.

“Coloradans across the state rely on rural health clinics to access care in their communities, but unnecessary and outdated regulations weigh down providers’ ability to deliver high quality, affordable health care,” said Senator Bennet. “This bill cuts three decades old red tape, modernizing a vital part of our nation’s health care system and allowing for trusted providers to improve and expand their services.”

Bennet has worked with bipartisan colleagues to support rural health care in Colorado and across the country. 

Last Congress, Bennet championed the Provider Relief Fund Deadline Extension Act to help ensure health care providers would have enough time to use Provider Relief Funds authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide their patients with exceptional care, as well as cover the costs of staff, critical projects, equipment, and other necessary expenses. Bennet also led the Hospital Revitalization Act to support infrastructure upgrades and capacity expansion at small and rural hospitals. 

The legislation is also endorsed by the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, the National Rural Health Association, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Academy of Physician Associates.