Torres Small introduces Save Our Rural Providers Act to help rural health providers

On May 22, Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small introduced a bill that would expand the amount of federal funding rural hospitals and clinics can get from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund should it be passed.

"Even before I was elected, I've been trying to raise the alarm on our healthcare in rural areas, making sure that people can get access to healthcare close to home," Torres Small said. "In the midst of COVID-19, it's become an even greater challenge."

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorized more than $2 trillion to help with the financial woes associated with the COVID-19 coronavirus from small business needs to medical provider relief.

The Save Our Rural Providers Act will add at least 20 percent more funding from the CARES Act to go toward rural healthcare infrastructure, Torres Small said. 

A rural area, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, is an area that is sparsely populated with low housing density and far from an urban center.

About 97 percent of the United States' land is rural with about 19 percent of the population living in a rural area.

"(Rural Americans) should get their fair share of the support," Torres Small said.

About $175 billion of federal funds was appropriated to help rural healthcare providers so far and there is still about $100 billion left, Torres Small said.

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The first $75 billion was allocated by the Trump administration to the rural healthcare infrastructure, Torres Small said.

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The bill has bipartisan support and it has a parallel bill in the U.S. Senate, Torres Small said.

"It's deeply important as we invest in our healthcare that we are doing so for rural communities as well. That we are supporting our rural healthcare clinics and rural hospitals," Torres Small said. 

"The clinics are a key piece were we need to work to invest in those communities now so we can maintain them," Torres Small said. "Often, even in the best of times, those rural clinics are struggling to keep their doors open. With the limitations on other services they can provide in the midst of COVID-19, it's  been even harder for them."

The Save Our Rural Providers Act has a provision to give priority to providers that care for larger amounts of patients on Medicare and Medicaid and patients aged 60 years or older.

The House bill is cosponsored by Republican Congressman Jim Hagedorn of Minnesota and the Senate bill is sponsored by Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter.