By Sen. Martin Heinrich
WASHINGTON D.C. — In a May 27 press release U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., announced that he and Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., secured Senate passage of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act, legislation they cosponsored to improve New Mexicans’ access to healthcare and keep rural hospitals open by extending the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program for another five years.
Many small rural community hospitals are too large to qualify for Critical Access Hospital status, but still struggle to stay open under Medicare’s current payment system. The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program helps address this gap by allowing certain hospitals to receive payments that better reflect the cost of care. Since 2005, the program has supported 55 rural hospitals across the country, helping keep their doors open and providing valuable insight into how to strengthen rural healthcare.
New Mexico hospitals currently participating in the RCHD program include Roosevelt General Hospital and Artesia General Hospital. This legislation will provide these New Mexico hospitals with the opportunity to extend their participation, should they choose to remain in the RCHD program.
“Senate passage of our legislation to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program is an important step toward helping folks get needed emergency care in minutes, not hours,” Heinrich said. “Now we need the U.S. House to urgently take up and pass this legislation. No one in New Mexico should have to travel hours to receive the care they need, whether they’re in a moment of crisis, getting routine care, or welcoming the newest member of their family.”
Luján echoed Heinrich’s sentiment.
“When emergencies happen, care close to home saves lives,” he said. “Right now, many rural hospitals in New Mexico are at risk of closing. Extending the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program is essential to helping keep those doors open and ensuring families can get the care they need. The Senate passed our legislation, and now the House needs to act without delay to protect health care access for every New Mexican.”
The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.
The legislation is led by U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Michael Bennet, D-Colo. Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Angus King, I-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., James Lankford, R-Okla., and John Hickenlooper, D-Col.
