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Rural victories in Senate Budget Resolution, SGR

By Erin Mahn Zumbrun posted 03-27-2015 11:34 AM

  

Among the amendments passed to the Senate Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 11) early Friday, was the National Rural Health Association-supported amendment no. 356 to allow the VA to provide veterans access to non-VA health care services when the nearest VA medical facility within the 40 miles from a veteran’s home is unable to offer appropriate care for the veterans.

The amendment, authored by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) creates access to community health care for veterans, and allows rural veterans to have quality, timely care in their rural communities. It passed 100-0. The budget also included language to make permanent the Medicare-Dependent Hospital program (MDH) and the Low-Volume Hospital adjustments (LVH). The House of Representatives passed its own budget this week, and the two versions will need to be reconciled.

Additionally, NRHA is pleased with this week’s passage of HR 2 in the House, which is the first step to ensuring the seamless continuation of multiple programs of importance to rural America. The bill provides for a repeal of flaw physician Medicare payment formula known as the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) and to replace it with a payment system that promotes a higher quality of care.

Of particular importance to rural America, it also includes a two-year extension of the LVH, MDH, work geographic index floor under the Medicare physician fee schedule, current rural and super-rural ambulance add-on payments, exceptions process for Medicare therapy caps, community health centers, National Health Service Corps teaching health centers, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

NRHA will continue to advocate strong funding for the rural health care safety net.  Members of Congress are about to go on recess and the timing of the 2-week recess, therefore, could not be more important. Members of Congress must hear from you in support of critical rural health programs. Join the fight to protect the rural health safety net — contact your Senator or Representative today to set up a visit, invite them to your facility, or plan to visit a town hall and let them know how important these programs are to your facility and your community.

And register today to learn more about emerging issues in rural Medicare policy at NRHA’s 38th Annual Rural Health Conference in Philadelphia.

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