S. 1355 would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care for individuals residing in underserved rural areas and for other purposes.
Detailed Summary
Rural Health Clinic Patient Access and Improvement - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to rural health clinic reimbursement.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make incentive payments to rural health clinic employees or contractors for satisfactory reporting of data on clinic quality measures.
Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow a community health center to contract with a federally certified rural health clinic for the delivery of primary health care services to individuals who would otherwise be eligible for free or reduced cost care if they were able to obtain it at the community health center.
Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the diabetes education and medical nutrition therapy counseling services provided by federally qualified health clinics.
Directs the Secretary to establish a demonstration project of grants to states to examine whether health care professionals can be recruited or retained to work in underserved rural areas by providing them with medical malpractice subsidies.
States that a rural health clinic qualified under Medicare or Medicaid may be defined and certified by the Secretary as rural even if it fails to satisfy the requirement that it not be located in an urbanized area.
Amends SSA title XVIII to establish the minimum Medicare Advantage plan payment rate for services furnished by a rural health clinic.
Expresses the sense of the Senate concerning the adequacy of network-based health plans.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 6/25/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
William P. Russell
July 4, 2009, 2:28am (report abuse)This law is urgently needed. Rural Health Clinics provide an important link to primary care for people in rural areas. Too many uninsured or underinsured people depend on the ER for primary care. A RHC can provide that service for pennies on the dollar but are often financially strapped by low Medicare reimbursement rates.
Glen Beussink
July 9, 2009, 3:00pm (report abuse)Many RHC;s in rural areas need this extra bumper. Many continue to have higher cost simply due to lower volumns and high cost of staffing. In areas of rural Missoui with out the Rural Health Clinic Program, we would lose pediatricians and OB/GYN's. Your help and supported is needed to move this legislagion and continue to serve patients in Rural America.