KENTUCKY — Earlier this year, House bill 387 was signed into law by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

It’s a measure that helps rural hospitals in financial distress and now allows the Cabinet for Economic Development to provide loans to hospitals and medical facilities, who are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

During this In Focus Kentucky segment, the primary sponsor, State Representative Danny Bentley (R-House District 89) explains that this legislation creates a revolving loan fund for hospitals in a county with 50,000 people or less. 

"According to Forbes, 1 in 4 rural hospitals are at risk of closure now and it's getting worse in the United States. In 2019, 19 hospitals closed. It's really getting bad. In Kentucky we have about 68 rural hospitals, with over 20 of those vulernable right now. So it's in the poorest, where the people are most unfortunate to be the poorest. And where's the most vulnerbale, that is where this is happening," explains Rep. Bentley