Bipartisan Bill Would Permanently Extend Rural Hospital Programs

The Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) and Low-Volume Hospital programs that have supported rural hospitals for decades but will end March 31 unless Congress acts would be made permanent under legislation introduced by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Peter Welch (D-VT). Separately, Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (IL) and Sen. James Lankford introduced legislation that would help rural hospitals facing closure. Grassley and Welch’s Rural Hospital Support Act would also update the rebasing year for Sole Community Hospitals (SCH) and MDHs to...