Critical Access Hospitals not only play a vital role in providing healthcare services to our rural and frontier counties, but they are also a main ecomonic driver in rural communities. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act does not adequately address some key provisions that would help increase the ability of CAHs to offer quality, comprehensive healthcare services. Now is the time to contact your Senators to ensure all of the following are addressed:
Reinstate "Necessary Provider" for Critical Access Hospitals - This would allow states to once again waive the 35-mile requirement and deem a hospital as a "necessary provider" based on unique conditions often only realized by local and state entities.
Allow Critical Access Hospitals flexibility in their bed count - CAHs currently are limited by a hard 25-bed cap. Allowing CAHs to maintain an average bed count of 20 improves patient access, especially in the case of seasonal or other unexpected influxes of patients.
Ensure Rural Access to Anesthesia Services - CAHs frequently use certified registered nurse anesthetists to provide anesthesia services in a cost-effective way. However, Medicare reimbursement is currently unreliable due to a lack of clarity in current legislation. Current legislation (S. 1585) would solve this problem and must be included in the final health reform bill. Additionally, H.R. 3151 seeks to close current loopholes and ensure that Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) are properly reimbursed for their anesthesiology services.
Eliminate CAH "Isolation Test" for Ambulance Reimbursement - Under current law, CAHs can only receive cost reimbursement for ambulance services if they are the only provider of ambulance services within a 35-mile drive. This provision would eliminate the 35-mile requirement, ensuring that CAHs are appropriately reimbursed for providing emergency medical services.
To contact Senator Bennet click HERE or call: 202-224-5852
To contact Senator Udall click HERE or call: 202-224-5941
