Cramer: New Law Increases Access To Health Care In Rural Nursing Homes

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer announced legislation he sponsored was signed into law by President Obama this morning. The Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2016 aids rural skilled nursing facilities by giving them access to funding within the Universal Service Fund (USF). Having access to such funding will allow skilled nursing facilities to better use telemedicine by upgrading broadband access in rural areas.

Cramer was one of three sponsors of the House bill, H.R. 4111. The sponsor of the Senate bill, S. 1916, was South Dakota Senator John Thune. Both bills had passed out of their respective committees, and the bill language was included in the conference report for H.R. 2576, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. The conference report was approved June 7 and the bill was signed into law today.

The new law amends the Communications Act of 1934 to permit public and nonprofit skilled nursing facilities to apply for support from the USF's Rural Health Care Program. This program funds telecommunications and broadband services used to provide health care in rural communities.

This law addresses the broadband connectivity gap between rural and urban facilities and allows rural facilities to access health information at rates comparable to those charged in urban areas. "Skilled nursing homes in small towns across North Dakota have the same need for broadband connectivity as facilities in larger cities," said Cramer. "This law will help North Dakotans increase access to much-needed health care without having to travel long distances to receive care."

Thune said South Dakota nursing homes have similar connectivity concerns. "While the open air and vast plains are what make South Dakota an ideal place to live, they can also create some serious health care accessibility challenges," said Thune. "This common-sense bill will support and improve health care services for people across South Dakota, including those in rural areas, and ensure that access to quality care can be as easy and affordable as possible."

This legislation was supported by many rural skilled nursing facilities, including the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society (Good Sam), which started in North Dakota and now has its headquarters in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Good Sam operates hundreds of skilled nursing facilities, including 10 of North Dakota's 80 skilled nursing facilities.

Dan Holdhusen, Good Sam's director of government relations, testified at the bill's hearing in the House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology subcommittee in April. "The Good Samaritan Society is fortunate to have many skilled nursing facilities and other levels of care serving the needs of many North Dakotans in multiple locations," said Holdhusen. "Many of these facilities are in very rural areas, and rely on the transmission of remote virtual connections, medical records and other data across broadband networks throughout the state. We are indebted to Congressman Cramer, Senator Thune, and a bipartisan group of leaders in both chambers that worked together to ensure passage of the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act. It will benefit rural residents in every corner of these states and across rural America."

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