AHA: REACH Act 'important first step' to ensuring care in vulnerable communities

May 18, 2017 - 03:35 PM

The AHA today called the Rural Emergency Acute Care Hospital Act (S. 1130) “an important first step toward ensuring access to health care services in some rural communities.” Introduced this week by Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), the REACH Act would allow critical access hospitals and prospective payment system hospitals with 50 or fewer beds to convert to rural emergency hospitals and continue providing necessary emergency and observation services. REHs would receive enhanced reimbursement rates of 110% of reasonable costs, and enhanced reimbursement for the transportation of patients to acute care hospitals in neighboring communities. In a letter of support to the bill’s sponsors, AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels said the association looks forward to working with Congress to ensure access to essential health care services in all vulnerable communities, and urged Congress to consider the recommendations made by AHA’s Task Force on Ensuring Access in Vulnerable Communities.

Related News Articles

Headline
CMS finalizes GLOBE drug pricing model
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Sept. 30 finalized its Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing Model, also known as the GLOBE Model. The…
Headline
HHS clarifies when state Medicaid agencies can use patient SUD records to verify exemption from community engagement requirements
The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights released new guidance on statutory and regulatory requirements under 42 CFR Part 2, which…
Headline
CMS launches outcomes-driven quality measurement initiative for states 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Sept. 25 announced the launch of a new initiative measuring quality in Medicaid and the Children’s Health…
Headline
CMS to remove Marketplace coverage for more than 760,000 as part of anti-fraud efforts
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will cancel approximately 315,000 enrollments impacting more than 760,000 individuals as part of its anti-…
Headline
AHA recommends changes to CMS’ Medicaid provider tax proposed rule
The AHA commented Sept. 21 on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed rule to implement the changes to Medicaid provider tax policies that…
Blog
The Stigma Healthcare Still Has to Break
To reduce suicide in the healthcare workforce, hospitals and health systems must create an environment where workers feel safe asking for help.By Susan…