The CATCH IT Act increases federal funding for rural health facilities to purchase or upgrade essential preventative healthcare equipment, such as advanced imaging and cancer screening technology.
Hillary Scholten
Representative
MI-3
The CATCH IT Act aims to improve rural healthcare access by increasing federal funding for preventative health equipment purchases under the Community Facilities Grant Program. This legislation boosts the federal cost-share by 25 percentage points for rural health facilities acquiring specific preventative care technology, such as advanced imaging and cancer screening equipment. These changes will take effect at the start of the next federal fiscal year following the bill's enactment.
Rural Clinics Get 25% Funding Boost to Buy Advanced Cancer Screening Tech, Starting Next Fiscal Year
The “Community Access to Treatment and Care for Health through Increased Testing Act”—or the CATCH IT Act—is pretty straightforward. It’s designed to make it easier for rural health facilities to afford high-tech equipment used for preventative care, specifically cancer screening and diagnostics. It does this by sweetening the deal on federal grants.
The Federal Funding Sweetener
Right now, rural health facilities can apply for grants through the Community Facilities Grant Program (part of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act) to help fund their projects. This bill amends that existing law (specifically Section 306(a)(19)(B)) to increase the federal government’s share of the cost by 25 percentage points if the project involves purchasing or upgrading specific preventative health equipment. Think of it like this: if the federal government was previously covering 50% of the cost for a facility to buy a new machine, they would now cover 75%. This is a huge financial break for smaller, often cash-strapped rural clinics looking to modernize.
What Kind of Equipment Qualifies?
This isn't a blank check for any new gadget. The bill is very specific about the 'preventative health care equipment' that qualifies for the extra 25% funding. The list focuses heavily on early cancer detection tools. This includes advanced breast imaging equipment, like those capable of digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography), mobile cancer screening units (which can be a game-changer for reaching isolated populations), and specific laboratory equipment for multi-cancer early detection. It also covers colorectal cancer screening equipment, CT scanners, and diagnostic ultrasound equipment. For a facility manager, this means if they’re looking to replace their aging X-ray machine with a new CT scanner, they can suddenly access significantly more federal money to make that happen.
The Real-World Impact on Rural Health
For people living in rural areas, this bill is about access and time. Right now, if you need an advanced screening like a 3D mammogram or a detailed CT scan, you might have to drive hours to a major medical center in the city. That means taking a whole day off work, paying for gas, and dealing with childcare. By reducing the financial burden on rural clinics, the CATCH IT Act makes it much more likely that these facilities can afford to bring that state-of-the-art equipment closer to home. This could mean earlier detection and better outcomes for serious conditions, which is especially critical for cancer where early diagnosis is everything.
When Does This Kick In?
Like many federal funding changes, this won't happen overnight. Section 3 states that the increased funding share will start applying on the first day of the first Federal fiscal year that begins after the bill becomes law. This structured rollout gives the Department of Agriculture, which administers these grants, time to update its guidelines and allows rural facilities time to plan their purchases and applications.