Senate Rural Health Caucus asks for continued support for rural health care programs in FY 2011 Appropriations
On April 15, a bipartisan group of 28 Members of the Senate Rural Health Caucus sent a letter to Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chair, and Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), Ranking Member, of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, asking for continued support for rural health care programs in the FY 2011 appropriations bill, while thanking them for their “historic leadership and support for rural health care programs.”
The letter states:
While current spending for all rural health discretionary programs is relatively small, it plays a critical role in solidifying the fragile health care infrastructure common in rural communities. We understand the current constraints on the federal budget and recognize the need to eliminate wasteful and inefficient programs. However, we also believe that we must continue to support government policies that work and urge you to take into consideration of the effectiveness of the rural health programs listed below.
The letter asks for continued support of the National Health Service Corps; Rural Health Outreach, Network Development and Telemedicine Grant Program; Rural Health Research Grant Program; Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program; Small Rural Hospital Performance Improvement Act; Rural Access to Emergency Devices; Office for the Advancement of Telehealth; State Offices of Rural Health; Consolidated Health Centers Program; Rural EMS Grant Program; and Health Professions, such as the Quentin Burdick Rural Training Program.
No requested funding amounts were included in the letter. Hearings and mark-ups for FY 2011 Appropriations bills have not begun yet. Both the Senate and House Budget Committees are currently holding hearings on the FY 2011 Budget and its spending parameters.
Click here to visit the National Rural Health Association's page on appropriations, which contains links to the appropriations letters.
