[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 46 (Friday, March 10, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H1254-H1255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RURAL HOSPITALS HAVE HIT A CRISIS POINT

  (Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, we have reached a crisis in our healthcare 
system across our country. Over 180 hospitals, many of them rural 
hospitals, have closed nationwide since 2005.
  Last month, the only hospital serving adults in Madera County was 
closed. Hospitals like Kaweah Health in Visalia, California, are 
sounding the alarm about higher costs and low Medicare reimbursement 
rates.
  What are we talking about here?
  We are talking about access to critical healthcare, emergency room 
services, critical care beds, elective surgery options, and women being 
able to have a place to give birth safely. We are talking about having 
access to healthcare in rural areas and throughout the country.
  Congress must act now before more hospitals close. We must improve 
reimbursement rates and address staffing

[[Page H1255]]

shortages, nursing shortages, physician shortages.
  Hospitals have hit a crisis point. If we do not act now, a nationwide 
healthcare crisis will be upon us.
  My mother once said: ``Jim, if you don't have good health, you don't 
have anything.'' Every American deserves access to healthcare.

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