Simpson, Otter Cosponsor Major Rural Health Care Legislation

Simpson, Otter Cosponsor Major Rural Health Care Legislation

Washington, D.C. - Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson and C.L. "Butch" Otter joined fellow members of the Rural Health Care Coalition, co-chaired by Congressmen Greg Walden (R-OR) and Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), in cosponsoring the Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act of 2006 (H-CARE). This bipartisan bill makes several improvements to help rural health care providers address the challenges associated with delivering quality care close to home.

H-CARE Act would make several improvements to our nation's health care infrastructure to help rural health care providers address the unique challenges associated with delivering quality health care close to home. Specifically, the bill would do the following:

· Authorize health information technology grants for rural practitioners.

· Require prompt payment to rural pharmacies by Medicare prescription drug plans.

· Ensure adequate rural representation on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.

· Establish a Rural Heath Quality Advisory Commission.

· Establish a Rural Community Hospital Program.

· Raise Rural Health Clinic reimbursements to more appropriately cover costs.

· Extend several expiring Medicare adjustment payments for rural practitioners including physicians practicing in physician scarcity areas, rural ambulance providers, rural home health agencies and specific classes of rural hospitals.

"While the rural character of Idaho provides our state with many cultural and scenic riches, it also presents unique challenges in many aspects of daily life - including the delivery of quality health care to rural communities and residents," Simpson said. "This legislation would help rural communities stay current with technology, prescription drug plans and reimbursements, all of which are extremely important to delivering the best health care possible."

"Residents of few states face the kinds of distance and terrain issues with which Idahoans cope to get the health care they need. It's a measure of our independence, but it should not be an undue burden to anyone," Otter said. "This is legislation reflecting the best that government has to offer - bringing resources together to meet people's needs where they live."

"The H-CARE Act will provide people in rural communities the certainty of care when they're sick," Walden said. "Today, the health care safety net in small towns is about to rip apart and if it does people will have to travel even greater distances to get help, or be denied access to care altogether. We're not about to let that happen."

http://www.house.gov/list/press/id02_simpson/h_care.html