Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) said rural nurses and other healthcare professionals have been performing such services with doctors within a 30-minute drive, but the new rule would require the physical presence of a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
“This rule is clearly out of line for hospitals that serve smaller communities,” Mr. Pomeroy said. “If it’s not medically necessary, and serves no purpose other than to burden our rural hospitals, then CMS needs to do away with it. I’m going to push on them until we get that done.”
Read Big News Biz’s report on rural hospitals.
