Sen. Lankford introduces bill to assist rural PPS hospitals
Posted on: 1/3/20
Late last December,
Sen. James Lankford, along with
Sen. Dick Durbin, and
Representatives Adam Kinsinger and
Dave Loesback introduced the “Rural Hospital Relief Act.” This bill would allow states to identify qualifying PPS hospitals as necessary providers and convert them to Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, thus eliminating the 35-mile distance rule. Eligible hospitals would still have to comply with all other existing CAH Conditions of Participation.
This could be a significant benefit to some of the struggling hospitals in Oklahoma. All of the recent hospital closures in the state would have benefited from this bill. OHA would like to acknowledge the grassroots efforts of our members in contacting Lankford’s office. Hearing from constituents is what swayed Sen. Lankford’s support. You can read Lankford’s press release
here.
(Andy Fosmire)