Kent Conrad: “Despite the successes that have been achieved under the Critical Access Hospital Program, changes made as part of the…”

“Despite the successes that have been achieved under the Critical Access Hospital Program, changes made as part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 have harmed the ability of certain critical hospitals, such as St. Joseph's Hospital in Dickinson, ND, to become critical access hospitals. It is imperative that flexibility be reinstated in the program to allow States to deem hospitals as necessary providers and, therefore, eligible for critical access hospital status. I have spoken with you about this issue in the past and am pleased that you are willing to consider this issue during consideration of a Medicare package later in the year.”