National Rural Health Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is so interesting to walk in and wonder if you have walked into the middle of something.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman for yielding, and I am honored to join my colleagues today in highlighting the accomplishments and ongoing challenges facing high-quality healthcare access in rural and remote parts of our country. Believe me, it covers a lot of our geography.

Healthcare providers in areas like Michigan's First District face unique struggles in maintaining financial stability while providing the best possible care, struggles unlike anything facing those in urban or suburban regions.

As a result, we have seen a significant increase in rural clinic and hospital closures over the past decade, and many of those still operating today are doing so at the razor's edge. A single provider closing their doors could result in patients having to travel hundreds of miles farther to receive any kind of care.

While the situation remains serious, we have seen promising improvements for rural health, especially when it comes to telemedicine. The pandemic underscored the need for and the efficacy of telehealth, especially for those in rural areas who would otherwise be forced to travel multiple hours just to receive a routine checkup or consult with their doctor.

Congress must act to permanently extend pandemic telehealth flexibilities, help providers and their patients get the tools they need to utilize telemedicine, and continue to reduce government-imposed barriers.

Let me also highlight the importance of the 340B drug pricing program, which provides discounted pharmaceutical products to providers that care for a disproportionate share of uninsured and at-risk patients.

In my district alone, we have 20 340B hospitals helping to care for our most vulnerable populations. These hospitals provide the best care available.

The 340B program has been a critical component of healthcare for so many Michiganders since its inception, and I hope to continue to work with my colleagues to ensure its lasting success, especially as the program faces new challenges that threaten its integrity.

I know our rural and remote providers will continue to do everything in their power to provide top-of-the-line care to their patients. In turn, Congress must continue to address rural health priorities and remove the barriers to their success.

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