fah hospital policy blog

At a Senate Finance Committee hearing held today, witnesses and legislators examined the issues surrounding access to health care in rural communities.

“Hospitals are the foundation of health care in small communities from coast to coast. With a hospital close by rural Americans have access to timely, quality care and frequently depend on that hospital as their sole source of care.

Providing health care for rural Americans comes with unique challenges. It frequently will require unique solutions. FAH and our members have long advocated for assuring the more than 60 million people who live in rural areas have access to timely, quality care. Advancing the use of telehealth, tailoring Medicare and Medicaid programs to better serve small communities and the other objectives laid out by CMS today will ultimately help patients and those hospitals that serve them.

FAH recently commented on the FCC’s proposed changes for the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program, which provides funding to health care providers for broadband and telecommunications services.