KRHA - Kentucky Rural Health Association - NRHA Rural Health Policy Institute Capitol Hill Visits January 2009

NRHA Rural Health Policy Institute Capitol Hill Visits January 2009

“In flux.” “Pretty special time.” “A chance to unite for what’s important to rural America.”
These were just a few of the words and phrases used to describe the atmosphere that greeted attendees at the 20th annual Rural Health Policy Institute.
Held Jan. 25-28 – just days after the inauguration of President Barack Obama, and the same week that the House approved Obama’s $819 billion economic stimulus plan – the Policy Institute was billed as “an opportunity to be a part of the change in health care that is coming to Washington.”
The National Rural Health Association’s partners for the event included the AgriSafe Network; the National Association of Rural Health Clinics; the Hardinsburg-based National Cooperative of Health Networks; the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health; and the Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet).
Nearly 20 Kentuckians were among the hundreds of rural health advocates in attendance. Despite what was called “the gravest economy in 75 years” and the largest federal debt in the nation’s history, conference-goers’ optimism was buoyed by the new administration, a new Congress and the potential for significant new funding to address age-old rural health needs.
Specifically, attendees went to Capitol Hill with a three-pronged strategy for improving rural health care:
n The workforce shortage crisis must be abated;
n Reimbursement inequities must be corrected; and
n The crumbling rural health care infrastructure must be repaired.
Among other things, rural health advocates also sought federal reauthorization of the State Offices of Rural Health program, which works in all 50 states to help rural communities build and strengthen health care delivery systems.
“Given that the budget stimulus was being debated and voted on while we were scheduled to meet with our delegation, we did not have much face time with the actual congressional members,” said Lisa Durham, director of the Institute for Rural Health Development at Western Kentucky University. “However, in all cases we were able to meet with staffers, and Rep. John Yarmuth met with a small group of us. Running into Rep. Ben Chandler on our flight home was an added bonus!”
In addition to the Hill visits, the conference featured:
n Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Health Resources and Services Administration officials’ analysis of Obama’s proposal for rural health;
n U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., and U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, discussing the House and Senate rural health agendas, respectively;
n Breakout sessions on workforce, health information technology, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, and rural America’s uninsured and underinsured; and
n A luncheon honoring rural veterans.
Besides the author and Durham, other Kentuckians who attended the Policy Institute included: Larry Allen and Woody Dunn, Kentucky Office of Rural Health; Dr. Baretta R. Casey, University of Kentucky Center for Excellence in Rural Health; Elizabeth Cobb, Kentucky Hospital Association; Rebecca J. Davis, National Cooperative of Health Networks; Steve B. Fisher, UK; Loretta Maldaner, Purchase Area Health Education Center; Bernie and Judy Poe, New Horizons Health Systems, Owenton; Kayla D. Rose, Northeast AHEC; Michael E. Samuels, UK College of Medicine; Lyle B. Snider, Appalachian Health Policy Advisory Council; Susan Starling, Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital, Irvine; and Evelyn “Karkie” Tackett, director of the North Central AHEC.
“We were well received by our congressional delegation and their staffs,” Tackett said. “Lisa Durham and I even had an unexpected opportunity to speak to Rep. Ben Chandler on the plane as we left Washington! I thought the Hill visits went very well. … Hearing everyone make their particular case made me proud of the talent, innovation and dedication that is at work in rural health in Kentucky.