May 17, 2002
Representative James P. Moran
Representative James P. Moran
PO Box 8208
Alexandria, VA 22306-8208
May 17, 2002
The Honorable James P. Moran
U.S House of Representatives
2239 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4608
Dear Representative Moran:
I am deeply concerned about the financial stability of our community’s rural health care providers. In particular, I am particularly concerned about the negative impact these reimbursement levels are having on our hospitals’ ability to maintain services for Medicare recipients. Despite the past Congress’ legislative efforts, Medicare continues to reimburse rural health providers far below their urban counterparts. This is why I urge you to sign on to the Nussle-Tanner rural health care letter.
As you may know, Representatives Jim Nussle (R-IA) and John Tanner (D-TN) are circulating a bipartisan letter to both the House Ways & Means and House Energy & Commerce Committees expressing their support for immediately addressing rural Medicare payment disparities. Specifically, the Nussle-Tanner letter urges the Committees to reform the Medicare program by setting aside new funding to: 1) provide full Medicare Disproportionate Share equity; 2) increase the Medicare inpatient hospital base payment rate for rural hospital to equal that which is currently provided to urban hospitals; 3) increase recruitment and training to address the growing health care labor shortage crisis; and 4) ensure the continued stability of our nation?s safety-net hospitals.
So, please help your community’s rural hospitals and sign-on to the Nussle-Tanner letter. Help preserve quality and affordable health care in rural America.
Sincerely,
James Landrith