Rep. Gosar Co-Sponsors Bill to Protect Access to Health Care

Press Release

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) announced his co-sponsorship of the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2014 (H.R.3991), legislation that would repeal the 96 hour pre-certification rule, which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced it would begin enforcing. This rule requires physicians at Critical Access Hospitals to pre-certify when a patient is admitted that they do not expect the patient to stay more than 96 hours. If the physician cannot certify this, the patient must be transferred or the hospital will not receive reimbursement from CMS. After his co-sponsorship, Rep. Gosar issued the following statement:

"As a health care provider for 25 years, I know the 96 hour pre-certification rule is absurd and jeopardizes the health of anyone living in a rural community. In my district this threat is all too real, as the nearest hospital in some areas is almost 100 miles away. Folks who are sick and need immediate medical attention shouldn't be turned away just because the doctor can't say with absolute certainty they won't require care for more than 96 hours. Additionally, forcing rural patients to travel further to other hospitals will actually increase travel costs associated with Medicare.

"This dangerous new guidance, which was created and is enforced by faceless bureaucrats in Washington, interferes with the patient-physician relationship; these bureaucrats aren't considering what's best for the patient. This only exacerbates the problems that rural communities already face when it comes to accessing quality care and recruiting high quality physicians. If physicians are no longer reimbursed for providing their services as a result of CMS' recent decision, then quality doctors will no longer seek employment at Critical Access Hospitals. Furthermore, this new directive could lead to an unnecessary death if an acutely ill patient is turned away. I urge immediate passage of this legislation to prevent the consequences resulting from this potentially lethal decision for folks across rural America."

Source