The National Rural Health Association is disappointed with the president’s budget that once again calls for cuts to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal includes both a cut in cost-based reimbursement and the elimination of federally designated CAH status if another facility is less than 10 miles away.
“This budget policy creates access to care concerns for rural Americans,” said Maggie Elehwany, NRHA Vice President of Government Affairs. “Cutting rural funding and eliminating certain CAH designations means millions of rural patients across the county could lose access to their closest hospital.”
Sixty-seven rural hospitals have closed since 2010 and 673 rural hospitals are at risk of closure. New data released last week from iVantage Analytics shows that sustained Medicare cuts threaten the financial viability of more than one-third of the rural hospitals in America.
“The rate of hospitals closures was six times higher in 2015 than in 2010,” Elehwany said. “We urge the President and Congress to recognize the importance of Critical Access Hospitals and stop these devastating cuts.”
NRHA is also disappointed that the president asked for $26 million in Flex Grants this fiscal year compared to $42 million in FY16. The Rural Health Safety was zeroed out and the budget proposes to eliminate he Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) program
Last week, more than 450 rural advocates marched to Capitol Hill to protect the rural health safety net as part of NRHA’s 27th Annual Rural Health Policy Institute. NRHA continues to advocate for these important programs. Stayed tuned to this blog for the latest appropriation news.