Chuck Grassley: “I rise in support of the Rural Health Improvement Act of 1997, which I joined in introducing today with Senators Baucus…”

“I rise in support of the Rural Health Improvement Act of 1997, which I joined in introducing today with Senators Baucus, Rockefeller, and Thomas. We've heard a lot lately, Mr. President, about how hospitals are doing better financially than they have in years. ProPAC's recent report to the Congress indicated that the average prospective payment margins for hospitals are becoming healthy again. In 1995, the average PPS margin was 7.9 percent; only 3 years before, the average PPS margins were negative. This has truly been a remarkable turnaround, and I applaud hospitals for their success at improving their efficiency. We must remember, however, that anytime we use average statistics, there are those which are below the average, as well as those are above it. In my State of Iowa, as in many areas of the United States, small rural hospitals are essential links in the chain of health care access. For these small hospitals, however, economic survival is a constant struggle. There are limits to what we here in Congress can do to help these hospitals survive. But I believe that we have an obligation to do our best to give rural Americans a fighting chance at access to health care. And at the very least, we must not hinder small rural hospitals as they try to serve their essential role. Unfortunately, our Medicare policies have often been an obstacle, rather than a help.”