Saving Our Rural Hospitals

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When an emergency happens, every second counts. Whether it’s a heart attack, a farm injury, or a child’s broken arm, the ability to get timely care close to home makes all the difference. Many times, it’s literally life and death. That’s why our rural hospitals couldn’t be more important.

They are a lifeline to our communities, not just for emergencies, but also for routine care. Yet, more continue to close every day. Since 2010, more than 150 rural hospitals have closed their doors. Several more have gotten rid of in-patient beds and more than 450 of them find themselves in dire straits. The picture is bleak and our communities that have lost their hospital know how challenging it can be to reopen them.

It’s not a new problem, but the challenges in healthcare, the pandemic, workforce shortages and other issues have only made things worse. Keeping a rural hospital operating is just not easy.

I work closely with our rural hospitals across North Missouri to ensure they are able to access the resources they need to stay operating. Whether it’ s getting them grant money they’re owed that’s hung up in bureaucratic red tape or securing funding so they can upgrade aging facilities, I’m always willing to do whatever I can to help.

There are some things legislatively that could be done as well to help ensure that the burden is lighter, making their survival more likely. This week, I joined with my Democrat colleague from Illinois, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, to reintroduce the Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act.

This common-sense bipartisan bill makes important much-needed changes. Our bill would give rural hospitals additional reimbursement funding from Medicare that they haven’t been getting, make enhanced telehealth services for rural health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers permanent and make increased Medicare payments for rural ground ambulance services permanent as well.

That may sound like a bunch of convoluted healthcare jargon, but the reality is this—every bit counts when it comes to additional funding for our rural hospitals. These changes could make the difference for their survival. 

We depend on our rural hospitals in North Missouri to be there for us when we desperately need care. They can’t do that if they don’t stay open. It’s critical we get this done not only for the future of our rural hospitals, but for the future of rural America.