Legislation introduced to help rural hospitals continue serving Kansas

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KCTV) - Today, Congressman Jake LaTurner (KS-02) introduced the Rural Emergency Hospital Adjustment Act in the House of Representatives.

This legislation would allow previously closed rural hospitals to re-open and apply for the Rural Emergency Hospital designation if they can demonstrate they met all eligibility requirements. Senator Jerry Moran has introduced companion legislation in the United States Senate.

“Expanding access to affordable and quality health care is vital to strengthening our rural communities in Kansas,” said Rep. LaTurner. “I am proud to introduce the Rural Emergency Hospital Adjustment Act to give rural hospitals the opportunity to continue serving Kansans by re-opening their emergency and outpatient operations.”

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The designation enables certain hospitals to convert to the new Medicare provider designation, which helps rural hospitals to continue operating with limited services rather than closing. Currently, hospitals are only eligible for the designation if they met the requirements when the legislation was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020.

The Rural Emergency Hospital Adjustment Act would extend the eligibility date back to Jan. 1, 2015, for hospitals that were either critical access hospitals or rural hospitals with no more than 50 beds.

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