AHA-supported bill would reopen ‘necessary provider’ designation

Jul 15, 2020 - 03:02 PM
senate-legislation-update

AHA today voiced support for the Critical Access Hospital Expansion Act (H.R. 6693), legislation that would reopen the “necessary provider” designation to eligible rural hospitals. “As you know, the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation allows small rural hospitals to receive cost-based Medicare reimbursement, which can help sustain services in the community,” AHA said in a letter to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif. “Hospitals must meet several criteria, including a mileage requirement, in order to be eligible. A hospital can be exempt from the mileage requirement if the state certifies the hospital as a necessary provider; however, the necessary provider designation expired on Jan. 1, 2006. AHA supports your legislation to re-open the necessary provider CAH designation to further support local access to care in rural areas."

Related News Articles

Chairperson's File
Chair File: Leadership Dialogue — The Importance of the 340B Program with Aimee Kuhlman of the AHA and Paulette Davidson of Monument Health
Public
For more than 30 years, the 340B Drug Pricing Program has provided financial help to hospitals serving vulnerable communities to manage rising prescription…
Headline
CMS issues preliminary guidance on provider tax provisions under OBBBA 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nov. 14 released preliminary guidance to states on implementing provider tax provisions in the One Big…
Headline
House vote expected on government funding package
The House is expected to begin a final vote Nov. 12 on the Senate-backed funding package, bringing a potential end to the government shutdown one step closer.…
Headline
Senate passes funding legislation, sends to House for consideration 
The Senate Nov. 10 passed legislation to fund the federal government that will now head to the House for a vote as early as the evening of Nov. 12, as an end…
Headline
Senate reaches deal to potentially end government shutdown this week
The Senate Nov. 9 took a critical first step toward ending the government shutdown as seven Democrats and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, joined Republicans to…
Headline
Senate negotiations ongoing as longest government shutdown in history continues
Senate negotiations on a potential funding deal to end the record-long government shutdown are ongoing, and the chamber is likely to continue working through…