Graves, Huffman Introduce Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA) reintroduced the bipartisan Save America's Rural Hospitals Act this week to rescue rural hospitals on the brink of bankruptcy and help put these critical care providers back on solid ground.

"This legislation would permanently end Medicare cuts that have devastated small town hospitals," said Graves. "For years, these cuts have forced hospital after hospital to close down all over rural America. Every single one of those closures has been absolutely devastating to the community and those they serve-with many of the best paying jobs in town being lost and families forced to travel much farther to get the healthcare they need. For many communities and families, this is a life or death situation. I'm proud to reintroduce this bipartisan solution that will make commonsense reforms to put our rural hospitals back on solid ground and rescue many from the brink."

"Rural hospitals have been left to face seemingly insurmountable odds for years without the federal support they need. Provider consolidation, continued COVID variants, and ever-increasing costs have piled challenge after challenge at their doors-leaving many hanging on by a thread," said Rep. Huffman. "Rural hospitals and health centers, like the many in my district that our communities rely on, need immediate legislative support. My bill with Rep. Graves takes the steps necessary to help keep rural hospitals afloat and protect access to high-quality care, regardless of where folks live. By providing regulatory and financial assistance to rural hospitals, we also support the communities they serve who are less financially secure, older, and have higher rates of chronic illness. We can and must provide a much-needed lifeline to facilities on the edge of collapse-and save lives in the process."

The Save America's Rural Hospitals Act comes at a time when rural hospitals and health centers are facing unprecedented challenges. Since 2005, more than 170 rural hospitals across the country have closed their doors-forcing patients to travel further to get the care they need and leaving others to put off necessary healthcare. Today, 453 rural hospitals are currently operating at levels similar to those that have shut down over the last decade.

The Save America's Rural Hospitals Act will reverse this dangerous trend by:

• Eliminating Medicare sequestration for rural hospitals
• Making Medicare telehealth service enhancements permanent for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
• Permanently extending increased Medicare payments for rural ground ambulance services currently set to expire December 31, 2024
• Expanding access to certified registered nurse anesthetists' services

You can read the bill here.

You can read highlights of the bill here.

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