Fifteen hospital representatives participated in WSHA’s 2016 Rural Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C., in September, meeting with Sens. Cantwell and Murray and five house members.
At the top of our agenda was opposing future Medicare site neutral policies and supporting fixes to those provisions from the 2015 budget deal. At our request, Reps. DelBene, Heck, Herrera-Beutler, Kilmer, Newhouse and Reichert signed a “dear-colleague” letter to CMS urging greater flexibility in the rules implementing the 2015 law.
Participants also urged the Congressional delegation to fix the 96 hours length-of-stay conflict for Critical Access Hospitals, expand telehealth services and protect the 340B drug discount program.
RAD has become a key part of WSHA’s federal advocacy. Members get a chance to focus on rural issues as well as spend time with the delegation. These contacts are invaluable in advancing our priorities. (John Flink)
