1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

As the 118th session of Congress comes to a close, it is important to consider many vital pieces of legislation that will support rural health care access and continue to uphold the lives of rural constituents. I support Medicare Dependent Hospitals (MDHs) and Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) Extenders (S. 1110 and H.R. 6430), Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities Extenders (S.2016/ H.R. 4189 and H.R. 7623), Rural Ground Ambulance Payments Extenders (S. 1673/ H.R. 1666), and Safety Net Program Extenders (S. 2308 and H.R. 2559) to help strengthen and improve rural healthcare infrastructure, the rural healthcare workforce, and equitable rural healthcare access. I do not support implementation of site-neutral payments given rural hospital vulnerabilities. Current proposals would cost rural hospitals $272 million in the next 10 years and with 50% of rural hospitals having negative operating margins and over 170 rural hospitals having closed, or stopped inpatient services since 2010, it is vital not to put further financial pressures on rural hospital viability. I urge you to support these vital pieces of legislation, oppose implementation of site-neutral payments and disproportionate share hospital (DSH) cuts, and extend these bills and programs to help improve rural health care access, infrastructure, and healthcare workforce.