Rural Health Care
by Congressman Mike Ross
 
June 15, 2001
 
Since taking office as a member of the United States Congress, I have worked to make rural hospitals a focus of my service.  It’s important to me because, you see, in 1995 we lost the hospital in my hometown of Prescott, and I gotta tell you, that‘s something that I don’t wish on anyone.  In fact, in the last ten years, our state has lost 15 hospitals. 

Rural hospitals and health care facilities provide critical medical services to the people of their communities, and we must do something to ensure that they have the resources they need to continue serving the people of Arkansas.  In May, during National Hospital Week, I announced my co-sponsorship of a number of bills to aid rural hospitals and health clinics, and on Wednesday, I was pleased to join a bipartisan group of members of the House and Senate in introducing the Rural Health Improvement Act of 2001.

What we’re asking for with this legislation is a level playing field for Medicare reimbursements.  Sixty to 70 percent of hospitals’ business comes from Medicare.   Insurance companies follow suit.  Their reimbursement rates are based largely on the Medicare rate.  So in the big picture, this bill goes a long way toward saving our rural hospitals.

This legislation not only boosts reimbursement rates for our rural hospitals, but it also helps rural hospitals and rural health clinics pay for labor costs and capital improvements, purchase new equipment and technology, and support the ongoing process of expanding telehealth networks to underserved rural areas.  And finally, it addresses the needs of home health agencies, which allow seniors to the opportunity to live independently at home while receiving important health services.

We need affordable, accessible rural health care for people across south Arkansas and across America.  If there was ever a need to put progress before partisanship, that need is when it comes to rural health care and saving rural hospitals.  I am determined continue working to make sure that we do just that. 


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