Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is a cosponsor of the Immediate Relief for Rural Facilities and Providers Act, bipartisan legislation that provides relief to rural hospitals to help address the COVID-19 crisis. This legislation uses an emergency mandatory one-time grant to Critical Access Hospitals and rural Prospective Payment System hospitals equal to $1,000 per patient per day for three months. The bill will also increase Medicare reimbursement by 20 percent for patients in rural hospitals using the swing bed program to increase capacity in overcrowded hospitals. Additionally, it provides a one-time grant for all providers and ambulatory surgery centers equal to their total payroll from January 1-April 1 2019. This bill is being introduced by Rep. Phil Roe (TN-1) in the House and Senators John Barrasso (WY) and Michael Bennet (CO) in the Senate.
“Our rural hospitals are absolutely essential to the North Country, especially during unprecedented times of crisis, like the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I am proud to cosponsor this bill that will provide them with critical funding they need in order to keep combatting the coronavirus. We must continue to equip our hospitals and healthcare professionals with the funding and supplies they need to keep our communities protected and healthy. I will continue to advocate on behalf of our North Country hospitals who are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 outbreak.”
“Across northern New York, and the country, rural hospitals are taking drastic measures to think through and prepare for the unthinkable,” said Sylvia Getman, Adirondack Health president and CEO. “This legislation would be instrumental in preserving our financial stability whenever we emerge on the other side of this crisis. We thank Congresswoman Stefanik for her personal accessibility and ongoing support for rural healthcare.”
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