Ways and Means Protects and Expands Telehealth Access, Health Care in Rural and Underserved Communities

Today, the Ways and Means Committee took action to protect and expand health care for millions of seniors and for Americans directly in the communities where they live and work. The Committee approved six bills that address a wide range of pressing health care issues, particularly those facing rural communities. The package of bills preserves vital telehealth and health-at-home access, helps prevent rural hospital closures and bring back others already shuttered, incentivizes greater access to ambulance services, and expands the number of doctors and nurses in rural communities.

In his opening statement, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) drew the connection between the growing gaps in health care access and higher mortality rates in rural America: 

“One of our top priorities on this Committee is helping every American access health care in the community where they live, work, and raise a family. 

“In rural America and small towns, families often struggle to get health care.

“600 rural hospitals are on the brink of closing forever. People in remote areas sometimes have to wait up to 30 minutes after dialing 9-1-1 before an ambulance arrives. Small towns are facing a severe shortage of doctors and nurses, and patients have to disrupt their lives to drive hours to routine appointments.

“The lack of access to emergency and outpatient services and preventative care is one of the reasons why rural Americans have a 43 percent higher mortality rate than urban Americans. Congress has a responsibility to the millions of patients living in rural America to make sure they have access to reliable, quality, lifesaving care.”

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