As part of its comprehensive efforts to enhance health equity among historically underrepresented populations, the American Hospital Association (AHA) moved forward today in publishing its support for U.S. legislation seeking to extend financial support for rural and geographically isolated hospitals.
Financial challenges of hospitals that are in rural, geographically isolated and low volume regions are significant. Medicare funding has been critical for these facilities and given that the network of providers serving these hospitals is financially delicate, continued funding support is essential.
For these reasons, the AHA and other health equity proponents are supporting federal legislation to help ensure access for populations in rural geographies to healthcare. The Rural Hospital Support Act (S.4009) and the Assistance for Rural Community Hospitals Act (H.R.8747) would extend the Medicare-dependent hospitals program and the low-volume adjustment program to safeguard the funds needed by these health systems.
Additional information about this proposed legislation can be found here.
