President's Budget Targets Critical Access Hospitals
At 11:15 this morning, President Obama released his budget outline for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. As is in years past, the President included cuts to Critical Access Hospitals. Specifically, the budget calls for decreasing payments to CAHs from 101% of reasonable costs to 100% of reasonable costs. Furthermore, the President proposes to eliminate CAH status for facilities 10 miles away, or less, from another facility. NRHA will continue to fight this proposal and fight to protect all Critical Access Hospitals throughout rural America. All rural health advocates must be prepared to continue their advocacy efforts throughout the year. NRHA government affairs staff will continue to keep you updated on things you can do to protect Critical Access Hospitals and the rural health care safety delivery system as Congress debates the President’s proposal. A copy of the full budget is available here.