NRHA Launches Advocacy Effort for Rural Hospital Designations
On October 1, both the Medicare Dependent Hospital Program and the Low-Volume Hospital Program are set to expire. If Congress does not renew these vital rural payments, rural PPS hospitals across the nation will lose millions in federal dollars which will likely mean reduced services, or worse, hospital closures. As it continues to wage its bitter budget battle, Congress is looking to slash or eliminate many critical rural health programs, and reauthorization of these two critical programs is in doubt. Important new data, however, indicates that the Federal investment in rural health has significant benefits both for the rural patient and the tax payer. In fact, small rural hospitals nationally have equal or better quality outcomes, and cost 3.7% less per Medicare beneficiary than their urban counterparts. Join NRHA’s fight to protect Medicare Dependent Hospitals and Low-Volume Hospitals. Learn more about NRHA’s campaign and a new study on the cost-effectiveness of rural health providers by clicking here. Join NRHA on Wednesday, noon ET for a special Grassroots Call to unveil our new campaign to protect rural hospitals and patients. To register for the call, visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/712923346. Sign up for timely, important Grassroots message by emailing join-grassroots@lists.wisc.edu.