Moran, Jenkins Send Legislation to Protect Rural Health Care Services to President�??s Desk

Tuesday night, the House of Representatives passed S. 1461, authored by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02), by unanimous consent and it will now be sent to the president’s desk. This legislation would prohibit the federal government from enforcing its unreasonable supervision regulations for outpatient therapeutic services on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other small rural hospitals in 2015, continuing the prohibition signed into law last year covering 2014.

“Making certain Kansans have access to quality health care remains one of my top priorities in Congress,” Sen. Moran said. “Rural hospitals find the federal government’s direct supervision requirements impossible to meet, so I’m pleased this legislation will soon become law to help preserve patients’ access to important therapy services in Kansas and across the country. This measure will also enable us to continue to advocate for passage of the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services Act – the PARTS Act – bipartisan legislation I introduced to permanently address this outpatient therapy supervision issue. Thanks to Congresswoman Jenkins for her efforts on this legislation in the House of Representatives.”

“Medicare’s unfair and inflexible direct supervision requirement would impact Critical Access Hospitals and other rural healthcare providers, ultimately hurting rural communities. What’s more, this rule would provide no benefit, merely creating excessive regulation that gets in the way of quality healthcare for folks in Kansas and across America,” said Congresswoman Jenkins. “I am proud to see this legislation that I authored pass by unanimous consent today in the House, and I urge the President to act quickly and prevent any damage being done to rural communities through this unnecessary regulation.”

Examples of direct supervision rules for outpatient therapy services:

Application of cast to a finger Blood transfusions

Application of a splint to a finger Demonstration and/or evaluation of a patient utilizing a nebulizer or metered dose inhaler

Alcohol and/or substance abuse (other than tobacco) structured assessment and brief intervention (such as advising of health risks and counseling for 15-30 minutes)

Pulmonary rehabilitation, including exercise of one hour per session – up to two sessions per day