House bill supports vital rural hospital funding
The National Rural Health Association commends Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), who introduced a House companion bill to the Rural Hospital Access Act on Friday. The legislation aims to reauthorize the Medicare-Dependent Hospital program and extend the low-volume hospital Medicare payment adjustment for prospective payment system hospitals through September 2013. NRHA has been advocating for this vital legislation and will continue to make rural providers’ and patients’ voices louder on Capitol Hill. If Congress doesn’t act by Oct. 1, rural hospitals will lose millions, causing many facilities to reduce services or even close. Help us keep rural hospital doors open. Contact your politicians today, and join NRHA in its March for Rural Hospitals July 30-31 to tell Congress to protect rural hospitals and the communities they serve. Learn more about NRHA’s campaign and a new study on the cost-effectiveness of rural health providers here.