The omnibus appropriations act, a spending package that would prevent a government shutdown and fund federal agencies through next September was released early this morning.
The rural health language is similar to the Senate Labor-HHS appropriations bill released earlier this year which provided strong support for rural program, including funding for the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program and Health Information Technology, Flex grants, and State Offices of Rural Health. Additional specific breakdowns of support for other rural programs are expected to be released in report language soon.
The bill includes an exemption for some rural long term care hospitals (LTCHs) from a billing change related to treating severe wounds.
The final year-end measure delays both the Cadillac tax and the medical for two years, and the law's health insurance tax will be suspended for one year. Like last year, the bill requires budget neutrality on the risk corridor program. NRHA will continue to monitor health insurance coverage options in rural America and how these provisions may impact health insurance offering across rural America.
The bill does not however include the potential reforms of the meaningful use program, such as hardship exemptions, 90-day reporting periods or a delay of Stage 3, nor were the Electronic Health Fairness Act part of the deal.
NRHA continues to advocate on behalf of all rural health programs and will continue to monitor the bill and accompanying report language for potential impacts to rural American’s health care. Continue to monitor this blog for more information on the final breakdown of the rural health care safety net funding.