Rural hospitals are expected to lose money from Trump's bill, despite RFK Jr.'s promise

WASHINGTON — Rural hospitals are preparing to lose billions of dollars from President Donald Trump’s signed into law this summer.

Dozens, already on the brink, have warned they face the prospect of closure or reduced services because of the bill’s cuts to Medicaid, which is funded by federal and state governments and provides health care coverage for the poorest Americans.

At a cabinet meeting Tuesday celebrating working Americans, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asserted that a historic “ ” is on the way for rural hospitals throughout the country.

“Right now we spend 7% of Medicaid dollars on rural hospitals,” he said. “They're getting the short end of the stick.” To address that, he said a new fund — established in the legislation — will give rural hospitals