{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-indiana-delegation-members-advocate-for-funding-for-rural-healthcare/", "Young, Indiana Delegation Members Advocate for Funding for Rural Healthcare", "2025-09-26", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Todd Young", "Y000064", "www.young.senate.gov", "toddyoung", "https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined U.S. Representative Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02) and a majority of the Indiana delegation in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz urging HHS to allocate the highest possible level of funding from the newly established Rural Health Transformation Program to Indiana.\n\nCongress recently appropriated $50 billion to strengthen healthcare in rural communities nationwide. The letter emphasizes that this investment is vital to supporting Indiana\u2019s rural hospitals, community health centers, and healthcare providers, which serve more than 1.49 million Hoosiers living in rural communities across the state.\n\n\u201cIndiana is home to 42 rural counties, and our rural communities play a vital role in feeding the nation and supporting our economy,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cYet, they face some of the most significant healthcare challenges in the country. Allocating the highest possible funding to Indiana will help us protect access to care, keep hospital doors open, and ensure healthier futures for Hoosiers.\u201d\n\nThe letter outlines the pressing challenges Indiana\u2019s rural healthcare facilities have faced over the past few decades, including:\n\nHospital closures and service reductions: Five of Indiana\u2019s 52 rural hospitals are at risk of closing, and 13 have already cut back services.\n\nProvider shortages: 71 of Indiana\u2019s 92 counties are designated health professional shortage areas.\n\nLimited maternal care: More than 20 rural counties lack a labor and delivery provider, placing expectant mothers and babies at serious risk.\n\nEmergency response gaps: Half of Indiana\u2019s counties are considered ambulance deserts, with average trauma response times of 17\u201330 minutes compared to just 3 minutes in urban areas.\n\nThe letter also highlights that these shortages and access barriers threaten long-term health outcomes for rural Hoosiers, making federal support through the Rural Health Transformation Program critical.\n\n\u201cIndiana\u2019s rural healthcare providers work tirelessly with limited resources to serve their communities,\u201d the members continued. \u201cFederal investment is essential to strengthening these systems, expanding preventative care, and ensuring every Hoosier has access to the services they need.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers conclude the letter by affirming their commitment to working with federal leaders to secure maximum funding for Indiana under this program.\n\nSenator Young and Representative Yakym were joined by U.S. Senator Jim Banks and U.S. Representatives Frank Mrvan (D-IN-01), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN-03), Victoria Spartz (R-IN-05), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN-06), Andre Carson (D-IN-07), Mark Messmer (R-IN-08), and Erin Houchin (R-IN-09) in sending the letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-indiana-delegation-members-advocate-for-funding-for-rural-healthcare/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.032902393490076, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}