Rep. Ron Kind’s Bill to Protect Rural Communities’ Access to Care Passes Congress, Heads to President’s Desk for Signature

Washington, DC- After passing through Congress with bipartisan support, Rep. Ron Kind's Rural and Underserved Small Hospital (RUSH) Protection Actis headed to the President's desk for his signature. This legislation will update the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Actto help ensure Rural Health Clinics across the state have the resources they need to provide access to care for patients in rural and underserved communities.

'Communities across Wisconsin rely on our outstanding rural health care clinics and providers for access to quality, local care,' said Rep. Ron Kind. 'We must continue to support their critical work. The RUSH Protection Actwill help ensure our rural health clinics stay open to those who need them most, and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this legislation into law.'

Rural Health Clinics (RCHs) play a vital role in providing access to care for rural communities across Wisconsin and have been on the frontlines of combatting COVID-19 in our rural regions. Unfortunately, due to a drafting error in the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, many RHCs affiliated with critical access hospitals that opened in 2020 are facing significant Medicare payment cuts. The RUSH Protection Actwill correct this mistake and help ensure RHCs can continue their critical work of providing care for patients in our rural communities.

Rep. Kind is the co-chair of the House Rural Health Care Coalition and serves on the Subcommittee on Health for the Ways and Means Committee, the most powerful - and the oldest - committee in the House of Representatives. It has jurisdiction over tax measures, the management of public debt, trade and tariff laws, Social Security, Medicare, pensions, and many other economic growth measures.