TOPEKA – This week, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) is pleased to announce the bipartisan House resolution recognizing the importance of accessible, quality health care for rural communities, H. Res. 356, now has 25 cosponsors. Congresswoman Jenkins released the following statement:

“With more than 60 million Americans relying on rural health care providers, Congress must recognize the importance of access to quality health care in rural areas. It is crucial to the success and prosperity of our nation. As someone who grew up in rural Jackson county, I know first-hand how important it is to have a hospital nearby, and the impact it can have when you are deciding where to start a family or open a new business.

“This resolution is particularly relevant given the recent report from the Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) that recommends Congress pass legislation that would ultimately eliminate the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation for 72 of Kansas’ 83 CAHs. This proposal would be devastating to rural Kansas and fails to recognize the unique circumstances of delivering health care in rural America.”

H. Res. 356 recognizes that:

• Preserving and strengthening access to quality health care in rural areas of the United States is crucial to the success and prosperity of the United States;
• 77 percent of the 2,050 rural counties in the United States are designated as primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas;
• Congress has traditionally supported those providers because rural hospitals and other providers face unique challenges in administering care to patients;
• In addition to the vital care that rural health care providers provide to patients, rural health care providers are integral to the local economies and are one of the largest types of employers in rural areas of the United States; and
• Hospitals in rural communities play a vital role in caring for the residents of rural communities and preserving the special way of life that these communities in the United States foster.

Note: H. Res 356 was originally introduced in September 2013, and is supported by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and the American Hospital Association (AHA). It is the companion resolution to S. Res. 26 introduced by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) earlier this year.

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