WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Rural Health Coalition, introduced H.R. 3859, the Rural Hospital and Provider Equity (R-HOPE) Act of 2012 on Wednesday.
This bipartisan bill would help rural communities meet the challenge of providing access to high-quality, affordable health care.
“The quality of health care you receive should not depend on whether you’re from a big city or small town,” said Thompson. “Ensuring everyone has access to high quality, affordable health care isn’t a Republican priority or Democrat priority – it is a national priority. That is why I am proud to be working across the aisle with Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers to make sure that rural America has access to health care.”
“As someone who grew up on a family farm, I know that rural communities in Eastern Washington have unique needs – particularly when it comes to accessing quality health care,” said McMorris Rodgers. “The numbers speak for themselves: There are 75 million Americans who live in rural areas (about 25 percent of the population), but only 10 percent of physicians practice there. In fact, one county in Eastern Washington doesn’t have a single primary care physician. Furthermore, when it comes to federal policies, rural communities are often left out of the decision-making process. That’s why I’m proud to join Rep. Thompson in introducing this bipartisan bill which will protect access to rural health care and ensure that rural communities are fairly represented in the government’s health care policies.”
"We commend Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Congressman Mike Thompson for the introduction of the Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2012,” said Alan Morgan, CEO for National Rural Health Association. “This legislation will go far in ensuring that rural providers have the necessary tools to provide quality care for all rural Americans. We encourage the passage of this vital legislation."
The R-HOPE Act of 2012 would bring parity to rural communities by:
Approximately one fourth of all Americans live in rural areas that rely on local community hospitals, clinics and independent practices for their health care.
Many of these facilities face significant challenges that this assistance could help them overcome such as remote geographic location, small size, workforce scarcity, physician shortages, and constrained financial resources.
In addition to the health benefits provided by these facilities, they also provide jobs to hard hit rural communities.
The average Critical Access Hospital directly employs more than 100 people and provides more than $4 million in direct salary, wages and benefits. An independent physician in a rural area supports more than 20 jobs and provides $1 million in economic benefit to their communities.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s First Congressional District, which includes the counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo.
He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
SACRAMENTO – Seton Medical Center in Daly City, Ca. has received a “AA” citation and a $100,000 fine, the most severe penalty and fine under state law, after an investigation concluded that inadequate care led to the death of a resident, announced Dr. Ron Chapman, director California Department of Public Health and the state public health officer.
The facility failed to protect the health and safety of a resident when it did not provide proper respiratory care which resulted in the resident’s death.
All nursing facilities in California are required to be in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations governing health care facilities.
Facilities are required to comply with these standards to ensure quality of care.
California has the statutory authority to impose fines against nursing facilities it licenses as part of enforcement remedies for poor care.
State citations that require a civil monetary penalty be imposed are categorized as Class B, A or AA.
The associated fines range from $100 to $1,000 for Class B, $2,000 to $20,000 for Class A and $25,000 to $100,000 for Class AA.
The citation class and amount of the fine depend upon the significance and severity of the substantiated violation, as prescribed and defined in California law.
By providing nursing facilities it licenses with consequences for substantiated violations, CDPH strives to protect the health and safety of vulnerable individuals.
The citation process is part of CDPH’s ongoing enforcement efforts in improving the quality of care provided to residents of the state’s approximately 1,300 skilled nursing facilities.
The bipartisan “Medicare Hospice Access Care Act,” allows physician assistants to care for Medicare hospice patients.
“No matter who you are or where you live, everyone deserves access to high quality health care,” said Thompson. “This legislation will allow Medicare patients to continue seeing the health care provider they know, are comfortable with, and that understands their health history. Entering hospice should not mean losing the health care provider a patient has come to depend on.”
“This is a common sense step for American health care. Medicare patients in rural parts of our great country should have the same freedom of choice as Medicare patients in America’s cities. Our legislation ensures this, guaranteeing uninterrupted hospice benefits to seniors in medically underserved communities,” said Terry.
Often, physician assistants are the only health care professionals in rural areas. In 2010 alone, nearly 307 million patient visits were made to physician assistants.
While Medicare coverage was originally extended to physician assistants through the 1977 Rural Health Clinic Services Act, the program was never updated to allow physician assistants to deliver hospice care.
Under current law, physician assistants may provide care to Medicare patients – until hospice care is needed. At this point, Medicare patients must then find an alternative provider, disrupting the continuity of their care.
With this legislation, individuals and families who rely on physician assistants as their primary health care professional would be ensured continuity of quality medical care when patients move from the hospital to hospice care.
“I commend Representatives Lee Terry and Mike Thompson for introducing the Medicare Hospice Access Care Act,” said AAPA President Robert Wooten. “The bill will increase access to quality hospice care for those relying on Medicare. Currently, physician assistants cannot provide hospice care for their terminally ill Medicare patients, and an undue burden falls on the patient and family to find alternative care. We cannot deny patients access to their ‘medical home’ at a time when they are the most vulnerable.”
Congressman Mike Thompson represents California’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
Funds were awarded through OSHPD’s Song-Brown Program.
The awards are funded by the California Health Data Planning Fund, which was statutorily established to receive and expend revenues in support of health care related programs. The funds are generated through annual fees collected from health facilities.
“Family nurse practitioners and physician assistants are uniquely positioned to improve access to vulnerable populations,” said OSHPD Acting Director Stephanie Clendenin.
The following 12 training programs received awards:
California State University, Long Beach – $170,000;
USC - Keck School of Medicine – $170,000;
Sonoma State University – $169,959;
California State University, Fresno – $135,000;
Stanford University – $135,000;
University of California, Davis – $135,000;
University of California, Los Angeles – $100,000;
University of California, San Francisco – $100,000;
Touro University – $125,060;
Azusa Pacific University – $99,981;
San Joaquin Valley College – $65,000;
University of California, Irvine – $65,000.
The Song-Brown Program works to increase the number of family practice physicians, physician assistants, family nurse practitioners, and registered nurses trained statewide to provide needed medical services to Californians.
For more information on the program, call 916-326-3752 or log on to www.oshpd.ca.gov/HWDD/Song_Brown_Prog.html.