Boone Health’s proposal to build a new critical access hospital in Mexico, Missouri won’t qualify for federal funding—despite the project aligning with rural healthcare goals outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Boone Health CEO Brady Dubois told Missourinet that guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) doesn’t match the original legislative intent, leaving their plan ineligible under the Rural Health Transformation Program.
“Part of the big push through legislators was they wanted to create access to rural health, emergency care and hospital care,” said Dubois. “And you know, if the area doesn’t have that well, the only way to do it is to build it. But with this fund, CMS strictly forbid any new construction projects.”
Dubois talked about the disconnect between the wants of legislators and the CMS regulations.
“There’s a disconnect between legislators wanting improved access to emergency medicine and then, with CMS regulations, allow for zero construction dollars can be used,” said Dubois. “So that’s been a little bit of a challenge. Getting the guidance from CMS and understanding from conversation with different legislators what they envisioned it to be.”
Dubois has explained that the existing hospital in Mexico, Missouri which has been shuttered for over three years needs to be torn down and rebuilt due to its age, structural limitations, and environmental concerns.
Over fifty billion dollars has been set aside in the Rural Health Transformation Program.
MO HealthNet a division of Missouri Medicaid will be in charge of distributing funds in Missouri.
The funds are estimated to be granted by the end of the year.
Copyright © 2025 · Missourinet