In an effort to improve health care for those living in rural communities, U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) recently introduced a bill to permit rural hospitals to use “pass-through” Medicare Part A funds to help recruit and retain physician anesthesiologists.
Medicare Part A funds can currently be used to cover anesthesia services provided in rural hospitals by anesthesiologist assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists — but not services provided by physician anesthesiologists.
The Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act, H.R. 2881, which Jenkins introduced with bipartisan support from U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), would amend the Social Security Act to address the Medicare Part A coverage gaps related to anesthesia services.
“For many years, rural hospitals and clinics have suffered from a shortage of anesthesiologists to care for their patients,” Jenkins said. “Attracting physicians to live and work in a rural setting is a unique challenge these critical access hospitals face.”
“This legislation will make it easier for critical access hospitals to attract and retain physician anesthesiologists to serve their rural communities,” she added.
It’s widely known, Cleaver said, that rural areas have higher percentages of children and elderly patients.
“Our most vulnerable citizens need access to quality anesthesiologists who are available to serve them where they live,” Cleaver said. “Rep. Jenkins and I understand how important this is and we are working to improve the health care for our citizens who live in rural communities.”