1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Hospital Stabilization Act . 2. Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program Section 1820(g) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395i–4 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (8) Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program (A) In general Beginning January 1, 2026, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy, shall award grants to— (i) hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals that are located in a rural area, as such term is used for purposes of section 711 of this Act (in this paragraph referred to as rural hospitals ) that have submitted applications to the Secretary, for purposes of assisting such hospitals in ensuring local access to services; and (ii) experienced technical assistance providers that have submitted applications to the Secretary, for purposes of assisting such rural hospitals in planning to apply for grants under this paragraph and using any amounts received under such a grant. (B) Prioritization factors In making grants to rural hospitals under this paragraph for a fiscal year (and determining the amount of each such grant), the Secretary shall consider the following factors: (i) The average daily census of the hospital. (ii) The distance between the hospital and the next nearest hospital. (iii) The financial circumstances of the hospital, as determined by such hospital’s most recently filed Medicare cost report (or other applicable source of information). (iv) The risk that the hospital will close. (v) The risk that the hospital will reduce or stop offering a class of services. (C) Use of funds (i) Hospitals Amounts received by a rural hospital under a grant under this paragraph shall be used to sustain, enhance, or expand the classes of services offered by such hospital, or to begin offering a new class of service, and may be used for— (I) minor renovations to buildings; (II) training with respect to the delivery of new or existing services