We can solve America’s rural health care crisis

Every American should have access to quality, affordable health care regardless of their zip code. The 66 million Americans who call rural America home are no exception. Over the past two decades, there has been a growing health care crisis in rural America, and Washington, D.C. has been slow in adequately addressing the problem. Fortunately, that is now changing thanks to the leadership of President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress.

Over the last 20 years, nearly 115 rural hospitals have closed. While federal leaders have aimed to support rural hospitals and providers through special reimbursement programs and regulatory guidelines, these one-size-fits-all policies too often don’t consider the unique circumstances rural care facilities face. Many of these short-sighted “solutions” are well-intended, but they have failed to strengthen the quality and access to care rural America needs or to keep rural health care affordable. It is clear the country needs to pursue a different path.

This July, the tax cut legislation for working families passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump made the single largest investment into rural health care in decades. Together, we were able to allocate $50 billion through the Rural Health Transformation Program that will better position rural health care facilities to embrace innovative technologies while improving the way health care is delivered, strengthening health outcomes, and ensuring the health of rural Americans reaches its full potential. This investment will be life-changing for communities like the ones I represent across Kansas and will empower rural health care professionals to better meet the needs of the people they serve.