Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator from Alaska | https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/about/bio
Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator from Alaska | https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/about/bio
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Brian Schatz have introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at increasing Medicare reimbursement for rural hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii. The proposed laws, named the Save Our Lone Emergency Services (SOLES) Act and the Comprehensive Reimbursement Initiative Targeting Investment and Care in Rural Locations (CRITICAL) Act, seek to address the cost disparities that these regions face.
The legislators highlighted the unique challenges that rural hospitals encounter, particularly in states that are not contiguous with the mainland United States. These areas often deal with higher costs for providing healthcare services, which are not adequately covered by existing Medicare formulas.
Senator Sullivan stated, "One-size-fits-all Medicare formulas are not working for rural states like Alaska and Hawaii," emphasizing the need for adjustments to federal reimbursement policies to account for these challenges. He noted that ensuring continued operation of hospitals is a priority for meeting healthcare needs in Alaska.
Senator Schatz added, "To make sure hospitals on neighbor islands can continue to serve the seniors that rely on them, Medicare must recognize the real cost of providing health care in our state." He believes that their bill will help increase reimbursements for providers in Hawaii.
The SOLES Act also received support from Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mazie Hirono as cosponsors.
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