Now that President Barack Obama has signed bipartisan bill H.R. 4067 into law, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) has gone on the record stating her support, which helps Eastern Washington residents get the health care they need.
“I’m pleased Republicans and Democrats are working together to advocate for people in rural communities like ours, because unworkable government mandates shouldn’t prevent patients from accessing outpatient therapeutic services,” McMorris Rodgers said. “Now that bipartisan legislation guaranteeing access to care has been signed into law, patients across Eastern Washington will continue to have access to low-risk outpatient services. I’m proud to support this smart solution, which ensures patients continue to receive quality treatment without interruption.”
Obama signed the bill in to law last week. It provides for the extension of the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals through 2014.
Essentially, this new law loosens the restrictions on Medicare’s rules to allow patients in rural areas to get health services quickly. It covers outpatient therapy at rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals through the rest of this year. Some examples of what are covered for immediate treatment include blood transfusions, application of a cast to a finger, and drug and alcohol assessment and intervention.