Political Quotes

“I rise today to detail my support of the Rural Health Care Improvement Act of 2001, which was introduced today by Senator Conrad and is cosponsored by myself and a number of my colleagues from rural States across this Nation. The Rural Health Care Improvement Act of 2001 will increase payments for low-volume hospitals, equalize Medicare Disproportionate Share, DSH, payments, close the gap between urban and rural 'standardized payment' levels, streamline wage index re-classification, ensure rural communities access to independent lab services, provide grant and loan programs for infrastructure and technology improvement projects, and strengthen rural health clinics. Those of us from rural and frontier areas recognize that rural health care is in a state of crisis. Through mismanagement of Medicare reimbursement policies and an unwillingness to truly evaluate the obstacles inherent in providing quality health care in rural areas, we have allowed rural health care to reach the brink of complete breakdown. The Rural Health Care Improvement Act of 2001 will go a long way towards rectifying this dire situation.”