Hartzler Co-Sponsors The Immediate Relief for Rural Facilities and Providers Act

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) co-sponsored H.R. 6365, the Immediate Relief for Rural Facilities and Providers Act. The bill establishes a new grant program that provides needed assistance to rural hospitals and is the latest step Hartzler has taken in support for rural healthcare providers.

“Our rural hospitals are on the frontlines of fighting this coronavirus battle, providing critical care to nearly 2.25 million people in our state who live in rural communities. We need to do everything possible to ensure they stay viable during this crisis and afterward,” Hartzler said.

The bill contains several provisions that bolster funding to rural hospitals and helps ensure financial stability as the coronavirus pandemic continues to put a strain on rural communities across Missouri and the country:

Creates an emergency one-time grant program to Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System hospitals equaling $1,000 per patient day for three months. Additionally, the hospitals will receive a payment equaling the total reimbursement received for services for the first three months of 2019 to stabilize the loss of revenue.

Increases the Medicare reimbursement by 20% for patients in rural hospitals using the swing bed program to help alleviate the strain on overcrowded hospitals.

Provides a one-time emergency grant for rural health care practices and ambulatory surgery centers equal to the facility’s total payroll from January 1, 2019 to April 1, 2019.

Authorizes the Small Business Administration to provide low interest loans to providers and ambulatory surgery centers at a 0.25% interest rate that will not begin accruing until two years after the coronavirus pandemic has ended.   

This co-sponsorship is the latest action by Hartzler to address the critical needs of rural hospitals and health care providers in Missouri. Over the last several weeks, Hartzler has advocated for advancing telehealth services to seniors in rural communities by expanding Medicare’s coverage of such services.

Hartzler also petitioned Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to ensure money made available by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is immediately and adequately disbursed to rural hospitals and health care providers.

“I thank all my colleagues from across the country who are joining this effort to ensure our rural hospitals and our rural communities aren’t left behind. This legislation is a critical piece of our larger effort to put rural hospitals at the forefront of the historic relief package passed last month,” Hartzler concluded.

For further information, contact Danny Jativa in the Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-2876 or at danny.jativa@mail.house.gov.