Torres Small, Hagedorn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Secure Funding for Rural Health Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Las Cruces, NM – Today, U.S. Representatives Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) and Jim Hagedorn (R-MN) introduced the bipartisan Save Our Rural Health Providers Act to ensure part of COVID-19 relief funding is dedicated to supporting rural healthcare providers across the country and in New Mexico. The bill’s companion has been introduced by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

The bill comes on the heels of Torres Small and Hagedorn’s earlier efforts – leading 32 colleagues in a bipartisan letter urging Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to allocate at least 20% of the $75 billion for health providers in the interim relief package, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, to rural areas.  

"Rural hospitals across southern New Mexico are simultaneously battling COVID-19 while fighting to keep their doors open.  Often, these rural healthcare providers across New Mexico and America are the only point of care for hundreds of miles, and closing their doors would mean thousands would be forced to travel even further to access critical care during these unprecedented times.  It’s time we get these rural hospitals the support they need to continue to serve their communities,” said Torres Small. “Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation would direct at least 20% of COVID-19 relief funding to rural providers across the county. As some rural hospitals brace for what is yet to come, this legislation takes an important step to ensure providers are able to provide high-quality care and keep their doors open.”

“Medical providers and our incredible healthcare professionals have made enormous sacrifices, financial and otherwise, to prepare for a possible COVID-19 surge. In southern Minnesota, we are fortunate to have so many fine rural hospitals. For many southern Minnesota cities, the local hospital not only delivers timely, quality medical care, but is the largest employer and drives the economy. That’s why passage of our legislation is so critically important. We must continue to fight and defend the interests of our rural residents and communities,” said Hagedorn.

“People across the world are losing their lives and loved ones to the COVID pandemic. The pandemic is also taking a huge toll on our basic healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural areas already facing challenges with funding, staffing, and an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Without a lifeline like the Save Our Rural Providers Act, many more rural clinics and hospitals may be forced to limit services or even close, and the patients we serve could lose access to the healthcare they rely on. Our patients are Democrats and Republicans, farmers, ranchers, babies, grandparents, friends, and neighbors, and they need this support,” said Dr. Clayton Smith, DO and Dr. Sarah Gude, DO from Grants, NM.

Specifically, this bill establishes the following guidelines:

• A minimum 20% Rural Benchmark in the Provider Relief Fund
• Priority should be granted to facilities that have been significantly affected by COVID-19 preparation
• Priority should be granted for facilities that provide care for a disproportionately high percentage of Medicare and Medicaid patients
• Priority should be granted for facilities that provide care for populations with above-average senior populations or co-morbidities that are particularly vulnerable to complications from COVID-19, and for populations in areas:
  1. With limited access to health infrastructure;
  2. With high uninsured patient populations.

The Save Our Rural Health Providers Act would require HHS to set-aside at least 20% of the Provider Relief Fund for rural health providers. Since the Provider Relief Fund still has roughly $100 billion unobligated funds, at least $20 billion would be allocated to rural providers, like the ones in rural New Mexico. The Save Our Rural Health Providers Act also clarifies that all Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, and dual eligible Rural Referral Centers and Sole Community Hospitals should be considered rural.

Bill text can be found here.

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