Sullivan, Murkowski, and Schatz Introduce Legislation for Quality Rural Health Care
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (both R-Alaska), and Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), introduced the Save Our Lone Emergency Services (SOLES) Act and the Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act this week to increase Medicare reimbursement for rural hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii. Historically, rural and noncontiguous states have faced significant cost disparities for Medicare reimbursement that drive up costs for both hospitals and patients. These bills would recognize the unique cost-of-living challenges rural hospitals face, and would increase reimbursement for critical access and sole community hospitals that serve Medicare-enrolled seniors in areas where other emergency or health care services are not available.
The legislation follows a letter sent to the Department of Health and Human Services by Senators Sullivan and Murkowski requesting more reimbursement-rate flexibility for Medicare inpatient procedures in Alaska and Hawaii.
“The federal government’s one-size-fits-all Medicare formulas are not working for rural states like Alaska and Hawaii,” Senator Sullivan said. “Providing high-quality health care in rural areas simply costs more relative to other states, and health care providers and seniors in rural Alaska are paying the price. We need the federal government to recognize these difficulties and respond appropriately by adjusting formulas to account for the unique needs that high-quality rural health care requires. Our priority must be ensuring seniors on Medicare can continue to access the inpatient and outpatient health services they rely on, no matter where they live.”
“Medicare formulas continue to fall short in addressing the challenges that rural states face. Alaska’s health care system relies on health care facilities to provide care in some of the most remote locations, contributing to increases in cost of care,” said Senator Murkowski. “This legislation will offer greater flexibility for these Medicare formulas, so our facilities can provide critical care to our seniors and rural Alaskans.”
“To make sure hospitals on neighbor islands can continue to serve the seniors that rely on them, Medicare must recognize the real cost of providing health care in our state,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bills will help boost reimbursements to providers in Hawai‘i and make sure seniors have access to the health care services they deserve.”
Click here for the Save Our Lone Emergency Services (SOLES) Act bill text and here for the Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act bill text.
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