Arkansas Delegation Supports Proposed Rule to Aid State’s Rural Hospitals

Jul 23, 2019
Press

Increase in Medicare Reimbursements Would Enhance Wages, Improve Quality of Care

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) , and Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-01), French Hill (AR-02), Steve Womack (AR-03) and Bruce Westerman (AR-04), are signaling their support for a proposed rule that would see rural hospitals receive higher levels of reimbursement from Medicare.

In a letter written to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma, the delegation emphasized how the proposal would address a disadvantage faced by rural hospitals by increasing payments to those below the twenty-fifth percentile on the wage index. Currently, rural hospitals are on the receiving end of some of the lowest reimbursement rates in the country because of structural inequalities built into Medicare’s reimbursement formula.

“Hospitals in rural states have long been disadvantaged by the Medicare Area Wage Index,” the lawmakers wrote. “We commend CMS for recognizing the disadvantages of rural hospitals, and we appreciate the agency’s proposal to provide needed relief to low-wage areas, while not increasing Medicare spending.”

In 2017, more than one-third of Arkansas hospitals had a negative total margin. The proposed rule would provide an estimated $12.3 million increase in total statewide reimbursement, allowing hospital staff wages to rise to more competitive levels to help Arkansas attract and retain skilled health care workers and increase resources available to invest in needed infrastructure and equipment, all of which would improve quality of care and bring more parity between hospitals in urban and rural areas.

The proposed rule is also supported by the Arkansas Hospital Association. The full text of the letter from the delegation to CMS Administrator Verma can be found here.

Recent Posts


Jul 1, 2024
Press

Rep. Crawford Statement on SCOTUS Decision in Trump v. United States

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Statement on SCOTUS Decision in Trump v. United States 7/1/2024 Washington, D.C. — Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. United States. “The SCOTUS decision today confirms that a President is immune from criminal prosecution for official acts within his […]



Jun 27, 2024
Economy

Steel Caucus Voices Concerns of Potential Trade Status Change for Vietnam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Steel Caucus Voices Concerns of Potential Trade Status Change for Vietnam 6/27/2024 Washington, D.C. – 37 Bipartisan Members of the Congressional Steel Caucus, led by Chairman Rick Crawford (AR-01) and Vice Chairman Frank Mrvan (IN-01) sent a letter to the secretary of commerce, Gina Raimondo, expressing concern about the department’s reconsideration […]



Jun 18, 2024
Immigration

Rep. Crawford’s Statement on Biden’s Mass Amnesty Order

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford’s Statement on Biden’s Mass Amnesty Order 6/18/2024 Washington, D.C. — Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement regarding President Biden’s plan to grant amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants.  “With illegal immigration soaring under President Biden’s open-border policies, straining law enforcement, public services, and resulting in […]