WASHINGTON, D.C.–This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins’ (KS-02) bill, H.R. 4067by a voice vote. The bill will provide for the extension of the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals through 2014.

“Critical Access Hospitals in Kansas and across the nation are the lifeblood of our rural communities, and one of the many challenges these communities face is access to healthcare,” reiterated Congresswoman Jenkins after passage of the bill. “This bill corrects a decision that puts a strain on providers and gives more certainty to folks in rural communities so they can receive the quality healthcare they deserve. I am hopeful this legislation will quickly pass the Senate and be signed into law.”

CLICK HERE To Watch the Congresswoman’s Remarks

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Congresswoman Jenkins, Remarks as Prepared for Delivery:

“I rise today in support of H.R. 4067, a bill to provide for the extension of the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals through 2014.  I was proud to introduce this important legislation in February and I am pleased that Chairman Upton and the Energy & Commerce Committee reported it favorably and brought it to the House floor today.

“The 83 Critical Access Hospitals in Kansas are the lifeblood of our rural communities, and one of the many challenges these communities face is access to health care. The presence of a facility such as a Critical Access Hospital in a community could be the deciding factor in whether or not the next generation of children decide to raise their family in their hometown, or perhaps whether or not a business decides to locate there.

“The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made a decision on January 1st of this year that will make it more difficult for these rural hospitals to serve their communities. CMS informed these hospitals that physicians are now required to directly supervise outpatient services, such as drawing blood and activity therapy.  This is a change in policy that will put a strain on providers, while providing no quality improvements for the patients they serve.

“This bill will correct the problem by reinstating the moratorium on enforcement of this unnecessary regulation.  It has broad bipartisan support in Congress, and the support of key stakeholders. 

“Mr. Speaker, I ask permission to enter into the record letters of support for H.R. 4067 from the American Hospital Association, the National Rural Health Association, the Kansas Hospital Association, and Anderson County Hospital, which is a Critical Access Hospital in Garnett, Kansas, one of 1,300 nationwide.

“I was born and raised in a small town in Kansas, and feel strongly that folks in rural communities deserve access to quality health care.  I thank my colleagues who are cosponsors of this bill, notably Congressman Adrian Smith and Congresswoman Kristi Noem, who have introduced similar legislation on this issue.  Also, I would like to thank Senator Moran for his hard work on the companion legislation.

“I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and am hopeful that the Senate will soon act on it so that it will become law.”

Letters of Support for H.R. 4067:

The American Hospital Association:While hospitals recognize the need for direct supervision for certain outpatient services that pose high risk or are very complex, CMS’s policy generally applies to even the lowest risk services. Your bill would provide a needed delay in enforcement of the direct supervision policy through 2014 for critical access and small rural hospitals with fewer than 100 beds. Again, we are pleased to support this bill and applaud your commitment to America’s rural hospitals and health care providers.

Kansas Hospital Association: On behalf of our 128 member hospitals, the Kansas Hospital Association is pleased to support H.R. 4067. This important legislation provides a one-year extension on the non-enforcement of the direct supervision policy for therapeutic services provided in critical access hospitals and rural hospitals with 100 or few beds. Effective January 1, 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ decided to not extend its policy to not enforce the direct supervision policy for therapeutic services provided in CAHs and rural hospitals with less than 100 beds. This new policy of enforcement on CAHs and small rural hospitals may limit the hospital’s ability to provide their outpatients with basic therapeutic services. These are services that have been provided safely in rural communities throughout the years. H.R. 4067 would provide a much needed delay in enforcement of the direct supervision policy for therapeutic services through 2014.

Anderson County Hospital:In a clarification received from CMS in January, they further instructed us that hospital employed practitioners in hospital-based rural health clinics, even those that are located on the same campus and adjacent to the hospital, cannot meet the direct supervisions requirement for outpatient therapeutic services. This makes it nearly impossible for us to meet the supervision requirements. Although we have a full complement of staff that could provide direct supervision, the ability to use them to provide services is not in question. These requirements present a significant hardship and expense to rural hospitals and is in direct conflict to the Conditions of Participation for CAHs… Because of the implications of these rules and their interpretation on the provision of outpatient therapeutic services at our hospital and many others in rural settings, I ask for your support of H.R. 4067…

National Rural Health Association:The National Rural Health Association applauds your leadership in introducing H.R. 4067. This bill will provide for the extension of the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals through 2014… We thank you for sponsoring this important legislation. You are truly a stalwart champion for rural America.

For the full letters of support,click here.  

 

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