[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 186 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H9066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SAVING RURAL HOSPITALS

  (Mr. GREEN of Tennessee asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, instead of this laser focus on 
impeachment, we should be doing the people's work and passing a bill to 
help many Americans across this country who live in rural areas. My 
bipartisan Rural Health Care Access Act, H.R. 2990, would do just that.
  Between January 1, 2010, and March 19, 2019, 102 rural hospitals 
closed in America. We are facing a crisis for rural America. These 
closures are increasing almost every year.
  While so many of our senior citizens must utilize Medicare, Medicare 
is not reimbursing all hospitals in rural areas at a sustainable rate. 
We need to designate all our rural hospitals as Critical Access 
Hospitals.
  Currently, this designation does not apply to those hospitals in 
rural areas that are slightly less than 35 miles from another hospital. 
My bill would get rid of this distance requirement, while maintaining 
all other requirements. It would help stave off the rapid decline of 
healthcare and protect vital jobs in rural communities.
  I urge the Speaker to give my bill a chance.

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