{"id":104150,"date":"2019-07-15T12:23:43","date_gmt":"2019-07-15T16:23:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=104150"},"modified":"2019-07-15T12:23:43","modified_gmt":"2019-07-15T16:23:43","slug":"brindisi-reed-stefanik-introduce-bill-to-fix-bureaucratic-mess-ensure-rural-new-york-hospitals-keep-their-doors-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=104150","title":{"rendered":"Brindisi, Reed, Stefanik introduce bill to fix bureaucratic mess, ensure rural New York hospitals keep their doors open"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Rep. Anthony Brindisi<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Working to Cut Red Tape\nThreatening Health Care Options for Rural New Yorkers <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reps. Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Tom Reed (NY-23) and Elise\nStefanik (NY-21) today introduced the Access for Rural Communities Act,\nbipartisan legislation to cut red tape and help rural hospitals keep their\ndoors open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ARC Act would provide a legislative fix to a\nproblem that arose for 16 rural New York hospitals as a result of a 2015\nCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services decision. The 2015 decision created\nbureaucratic confusion and resulted in recoupment payments being sought by\nMedicare contractors from the local hospitals. This legislation would provide\nCMS with the authority to fix this bureaucratic confusion and help New York\nrural hospitals stay open. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaintaining access to health care for our rural communities\nis, unfortunately, often times a life or death issue,\u201d Brindisi said.\n\u201cCongress needs to do everything it can to keep the doors of these rural\nhospitals open. The ARC Act is a small step to ensuring Upstate New York\ncommunities have access to care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe care about ensuring the hardworking people throughout\nrural New York have access to hospitals,\u201d Tom said. \u201cBy slashing bureaucratic\nred tape we can guarantee the hospitals in our backyard are able to continue\ntheir mission of delivering healthcare to people in their times of need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe rural community hospitals in my district are\nfinancially vulnerable and rely on the Volume Decrease Adjustment to keep the\nlights on,\u201d said Congresswoman Stefanik. \u201cThis legislative fix will\nhelp eight Sole Community and Medicare Dependent Hospitals in the North Country\nthat care for our seniors and the most vulnerable. I am proud to partner with\nmy colleagues in Upstate New York to support rural hospitals and promote\nquality and affordable health care for our constituents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local health care advocates praised the members\u2019\nlegislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHANYS applauds Reps. Brindisi, Reed, and Stefanik for their\nsteadfast support of New York\u2019s not-for-profit small and rural hospitals,\u201d\nsaid Healthcare Association of New York State President Bea Grause, RN,\nJD. \u201cThe Access for Rural Communities Act would preserve access to care in\nrural communities across New York state by protecting critical Medicare Volume\nDecrease Adjustment payments for financially vulnerable hospitals. We look\nforward to working with the entire Delegation, under the bipartisan leadership\nof Reps. Brindisi, Reed, and Stefanik to secure passage of this important\nbill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe thank Representatives Brindisi, Reed and Stefanik for\nintroducing this bipartisan bill in an effort to bring resolution to the Volume\nDecrease Adjustment,\u201d said Dewey Rowlands, VP\/Chief Financial Officer at\nRome Memorial Hospital. \u201cIn light of the government\u2019s efforts to stabilize\nfragile community hospitals, this will help those like Rome Memorial Hospital\nto continue to provide the essential services for the patients we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCongressman Brindisi has made understanding rural health\ncare issues a priority and we appreciate that he has taken our concerns to\nheart as he crafted the Access for Rural Communities Act,\u201d said Drake\nLamen, MD, President and CEO\/CMO of UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich,\nNew York. \u201cWe thank the Congressman for his leadership on this important\nbipartisan bill to protect Medicare Volume Decrease Adjustment payments that\nare so critical to our hospital and the people we serve. Knowing that we have a\nsupportive partner in Washington, one willing to work with his colleagues\nacross the aisle, is encouraging as we strive to provide excellent health care\nto our community.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Text of the bipartisan legislation can be found HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background:<\/p>\n\n\n\n