Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson joined fellow members of the Rural Health Care Coalition, co-chaired by Congressmen Greg Walden (R–OR) and Earl Pomeroy (D–ND), in cosponsoring H.R. 2680, the Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act of 2007 (H-CARE). This bipartisan bill would help rural health care providers address obstacles associated with delivering quality care close to home.

H-CARE Act makes several improvements to our nation’s health care infrastructure that would help rural health care providers address their unique challenges. Specifically, the bill would do the following:

• Authorize health information technology grants for rural practitioners.
• Provide flexibility in the number of beds Critical Access Hospitals are allowed to fill.
• Require prompt payment to rural pharmacies by Medicare prescription drug plans.
• Ensure adequate rural representation on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.
• Establish a Rural Heath Quality Advisory Commission.
• Raise Rural Health Clinic reimbursements to more appropriately cover costs.
• Extend several expiring Medicare adjustment payments for rural practitioners including physicians practicing in physician-scarce areas, rural ambulance providers, rural home health agencies and specific classes of rural hospitals.

"While the rural character of Idaho provides our state with many cultural and scenic riches, it also presents unique challenges in many aspects of daily life – including the delivery of quality health care to rural communities and residents," Simpson said. "This legislation would help rural communities stay current with technology, prescription drug plans and reimbursements, all of which are extremely important to delivering the best health care possible."

"Rural caregivers and rural patients deserve a better partner in the federal government when it comes to the health of rural America," Walden said. "It is high time that rural America stops being treated like a second-class constituency when it comes to issues like Medicare reimbursement. The H-CARE Act delivers commonsense solutions to obstacles that can inhibit the delivery of quality health care to millions of Americans."

 Organizations that support H.R. 2860 include the National Rural Health Association, American Hospital Association, American Osteopathic Association, American Ambulance Association, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, National Association for Home Care and Hospice, College of American Pathologists, Rural Referral Center/Sole Community Hospital Coalition, Federation of American Hospitals, American Counseling Association, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, Association of Community Pharmacists, the Section 508 Hospital Coalition and the American Mental Health Counselors Association.