House Bill 843, titled the "Restoring Rural Hospital Access for Perry and Decatur Counties Act," aims to designate Perry County Community Hospital and Decatur County General Hospital as critical access hospitals. The bill recognizes the essential role these hospitals play in providing healthcare services to vulnerable populations in their respective regions, particularly in Linden and Parsons, Tennessee. It emphasizes that both hospitals have historically served as necessary providers of healthcare services, including during years prior to January 1, 2006, and that their designation as critical access hospitals is crucial for their operational stability and the enhancement of healthcare services in rural Tennessee.

To facilitate this designation, the bill mandates the Department of Health and the Health Facilities Commission to take necessary steps to ensure compliance with federal requirements and expedite the designation process. The bill also includes a severability clause, ensuring that if any provision is found invalid, the remaining provisions will still be effective. The act will take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the urgency of restoring healthcare access in these rural areas.