At the end of September, two major programs for rural hospitals timed out: the Medicare-Dependent Hospital Program and the Low-Volume Hospital Program. These programs provide special funds to several hundred rural hospitals that rely on heavy amounts of Medicare patients or are in a low-volume area.
In May, Sen. Schumer proposed a bipartisan bill with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to extend the programs through September 2013. He said in the report he would “fight tooth and nail” to restore the programs and to make sure that payments are retroactive so rural hospitals receive all expected funds.
Sen. Schumer said he eventually believes Congress will pass a bill to keep rural hospital Medicare funding programs alive because numerous legislators represent rural areas and hospitals that rely on those funds, according to the report.
More Articles on Rural Hospital Medicare Funds:
Hospital Groups Urge Congress to Extend Rural Medicare Provisions
AHA to Congress: Extend Medicare Programs Critical to Rural Hospitals
House Proposes Companion Bill for Rural Hospital Medicare Payments
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