Max Baucus: “I would like to say a few words with respect to health care in general, but more particularly with respect to health…”

“I would like to say a few words with respect to health care in general, but more particularly with respect to health care reform that affects rural States, particularly those in the West. The critical issue we face, Madam President, in the West in health care reform is increasing access--that is, increasing access to quality, affordable health care in areas of the country that do not have as many doctors or as many hospitals as our urban areas. We in the West face a crisis, Madam President, in rural health care. More than 1 out of 4 Americans lives in a rural area that suffers high rates of uninsurance and underinsurance, severe chronic shortages of care and a high rate of hospital closures. Rural Montana, for example, faces these unique concerns in spades. They must be addressed if we are going to have meaningful health care reform pass this Congress. Rural health care reform needs a comprehensive strategy.”