Rep. David Valadao (R–Hanford) introduced a bill on Thursday that aims to make it easier for hospitals in underserved communities to receive federal funding.
Valadao and Rep. Lori Trahan (D–Massachusetts) introduced the Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act.
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The big picture: The bill would create an “essential health system” designation in federal law for hospitals in rural and underserved communities.
- Lawmakers would use that new designation to better target funding, health equity initiatives and public health resources to support such hospitals.
- Hospitals would qualify under the designation by either having a high number of Medicaid and low-income Medicare patients, as well as uninsured patients.
What they’re saying: “We must ensure hospitals in our rural and underserved communities have the resources they need to provide high-quality care for Central Valley residents,” Valadao said. “The Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act will clearly identify the hospitals that serve our most vulnerable communities, allowing critical federal resources to be more easily directed towards them. I’ll continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure Central Valley families have access to high-quality, affordable health care.”
