MHA's Center for Rural Health

AHA urges FCC to streamline rural health care program

The American Hospital Association on Aug. 22 urged the Federal Communications Commission to move quickly and streamline administrative requirements under its Rural Health Care program, so that program funds can be fully deployed and connect rural health care systems with broadband services to support electronic health records, telemedicine and other patient needs. “Complex rules and administrative burden have previously limited participation in the program, despite demonstrated need for assistance,” wrote Linda Fishman, AHA senior vice president for public policy analysis and development. “Steps to streamline should be taken in the application, reporting and competitive bidding requirements.”

In addition, AHA said urban and for-profit providers should be allowed to participate in consortia that apply for funding under the program – “as long as controls are in place to ensure that rural providers receive the preponderance of the benefit.” The AHA notes that broadband support is crucial to address the growing digital divide between rural and urban providers.

FCC: Rural Health Pilot Program Boosts Care Quality, Curbs Costs

On Aug. 13, the Federal Communications Commission released a report stating that its pilot project to build broadband networks for rural health care providers has improved care quality and cut costs. The report also notes that the project reduced wait times for certain health care services by providing patients with access to telehealth consultations.

Read more here.

Hospital groups brief Congress on need to extend rural Medicare provisions

The American Hospital Association on July 31 participated in a policy briefing on Capitol Hill to educate congressional staff about the importance of passing legislation that would extend several lapsed or soon-to-expire Medicare provisions that impact rural patients and health care providers. Over the years, Congress has enacted several provisions including the low-volume hospital payment adjustment, Medicare-Dependent Hospital program and Section 508 reclassification program to address the special challenges rural and other providers face in delivering health care services to their communities.

In February, Congress passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which extended several provisions important to rural hospitals and beneficiaries, many of which will need to be extended again before the end of the year. In addition to the AHA, representatives from the National Rural Health Association, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, Rural Policy Research Institute and Rural Hospital Coalition participated in the briefing, sponsored by the Senate Rural Health Caucus.