This week more than 20 rural hospital leaders took the advocacy to the nation’s capital during the Washington State Hospital Association’s Rural Advocacy Day. The focus of discussions was sustaining access to local health care through preserving programs that support hospitals like the state directed payment program to buoy Medicaid payment and the 340B prescription drug discount program.
During this year’s hill visits, the group spent time in the offices of seven of Washington’s 12 members of Congress, including Representatives Emily Randall, Dan Newhouse, Marilyn Strickland, Kim Schrier, Marie Gluesenkemp Perez, Rick Larsen and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. We appreciate the time our Representatives and Senators take to understand the headwinds facing hospitals as they work to serve their communities. We look forward to continuing to work with the delegation in the coming months to address these challenges. (Jacqueline Barton True)