Rural Health Care

Improving access to quality, affordable health care in rural communities

Much of Eastern Washington is rural, creating a challenge for those who do not live near a health center, such as Spokane. Whether you live in Oroville, Ritzville or Dayton, access to quality health care is important. That is why McMorris Rodgers is working to help strengthen Eastern Washington’s rural health infrastructure, recruit and train physicians to practice in rural areas, and find long-term solutions to meet rural health care needs.

As a member of the bi-partisan Congressional Rural Health Care Coalition, she is working with others to advance important rural health care programs. Increased funding for critical rural health programs, ensuring rural communities have access to health care professional, and supporting new technologies are all crucial to improve rural health care.

Rural Health Care Accomplishments

• In December of 2005, McMorris Rodgers was instrumental in getting $90 million included in the 2005 Labor-HHS-Education bill for critical rural health programs that were previously zeroed out in the President’s budget. She worked with leadership and received a note from then Speaker Hastert, thanking her for speaking up on behalf of rural health and noting the following programs received money per her efforts: Area of Health Education Centers, Title VII Primary Care Training and Dentistry, Office of Rural Health Research and Policy, Rural Health Outreach Grants and Community Health Centers.

Legislation Sponsored

109th Congress

H.R. 1654 Rural Training Incentives Act - WWAMI
This legislation revises and updates the successful WWAMI program to address the shortages of health care professionals in rural areas. The program allows students to receive their training from rural clinics and provides incentives for residents to practice in rural areas where health care professionals are needed.

Legislation Co-Sponsored

110th Congress

H.R. 6030 the Health Care Access and Rural Equity (H-CARE) Act.
H-CARE addresses barriers to quality health care by recognizing the unique characteristics of health care delivery in rural areas and assisting rural health care providers in their efforts to continue to provide quality care to rural Americans. This bill increase disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to rural hospitals, improves payments for lab services in small Critical Access Hospitals, authorizes a loan program targeted to rural hospitals for capital improvement projects such as hospital renovation and expansion, ensures adequate rural representation on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, and requires prompt payment to rural pharmacies by Medicare prescription drug.

H.R. 315, Help Establish Access to Local Timely Healthcare for your Vets Act (HEALTY Vets Act)
This bill would allow veterans to see local health care providers instead of having to travel lengthy distances for care at a VA facility. Although at times there are mobile clinics, veterans in Okanogon, Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille County have to travel to Spokane to receive care. Local health care providers often have the ability to provide veterans with better service that is closer to their homes.

109th Congress

H.R. 5166 Independent Pharmacy Protect Act
This legislation requires Medicare Prescription Drug Plans to reimburse community pharmacies in a timely manner (within 10 days). It would also require increased dispensing fees for generic drugs and mandate that drug plans offer electronic reimbursement options to pharmacies.

H.R. 971 Community Pharmacy Fairness Act
This bill reforms antitrust laws to allow independent pharmacists to negotiate terms and conditions of insurance contracts collectively, thus ensuring a fairer price for medications and ensuring access for seniors who live in rural areas.

H.R. 3547 Safety Net Impatient Drug Affordability Act
Allows Critical Access Hospitals that do not get outpatient drugs through a group purchasing organization, to participate in the 340B discount drug program.

H.R. 5 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act
This legislation would limit the non-economic damage amount that can be awarded in a medical liability suit. It does not limit economic damages and thereby provids a balance for those who are truly deserving of redress for wrongdoing. This approach will provide much needed relief to good doctors who provide our community with quality health care by setting reasonable limits for punitive damages.

H.R. 2355 Health Care Choice Act
Empowers consumers by giving them the ability to purchase an affordable health insurance policy with a range of options. Individuals can purchase a health insurance plan that truly meets their needs by giving them the option of purchasing a valid policy from any state, not just their state of residence. Whichever plan a consumer opts for, must abide by the regulations within its state of origin. The estimated cost savings for people in Washington State is 22 percent in the individual market and 28 percent in the family market.

H.R. 1333 Direct Access to Physical Therapy Act Ensures that Medicare beneficiaries who need outpatient physical therapy services, have the ability to be diagnosed and treated by a licensed physical therapist without waiting for a physician referral.

H.R. 5118 Medicare Rural Health Provider Payment Extension
Provides incentives for home health agencies to purchase and utilize home monitoring and communications technologies. These projects will use technology to enhance health outcomes for seniors and reduce Medicare spending.

Press Releases

• McMorris Rodgers Votes to Protect Local Hospitals and Senior’s Health Care (August 1, 2007)
• McMorris Rodgers Cosponsors Bill to Expand and Improve Health Savings Accounts (July 12, 2007)
• McMorris Rodgers, Kind Introduce Bill to Ensure Rural Hospitals Receive Medicare Reimbursements (May 8, 2007)
• McMorris and USDA Rural Development to Award Broadband Grant to Ferry County Public Hospital District #1 (January 11, 2007)
• Ferry County Public Hospital Receives USDA-Rural Development Grant (October 16, 2006)
• McMorris, Smith Pass Health IT Amendment to Reduce Costs and Improve Health Care (July 27, 2006)
• McMorris Supports Legislation to Improve Quality of Health Care (June 21, 2006)
• Rural Health Programs Receive Funding in the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill (December 14, 2005)
• McMorris Fights for Quality, Affordable Health Care (August 1, 2005)
• McMorris Introduces Ferry County Rural Hospital Accessibility Act Legislation Is First Introduced By Freshman Member (April 11, 2005)
  

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