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John Barrasso

22/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 22/11/2024 18:54

Barrasso Bill Secures Fair Share of Funding for Wyoming Hospitals

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), joined by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), recently introduced bipartisan legislation to secure increased federal support for hospitals that care for a large number of Medicaid and uninsured patients in Wyoming and other rural states. The legislation would ensure these hospitals receive their fair share of federal funding.

The Delivering Support for Hospitals (DSH) Act would establish a nationwide federal funding minimum for disproportionate share hospitals (DSH). Currently, Wyoming receives the lowest payments of any state by far. In 2023, Wyoming's DSH funding totaled only $300,000 while the second-lowest state received $11 million.

"Hospitals in Wyoming need their fair share of support," said Senator Barrasso. "Wyoming's hospitals see a larger share of Medicaid and low-income visitors than other states, yet we're often left behind when it comes to funding. Our legislation will ensure hospitals in Wyoming and across rural America get the support they deserve so they can keep providing care to those who need it most."

"By enabling states to increase payments to hospitals providing uncompensated care, our bill will help more uninsured and low-income people across Hawai'i access the care they need," said Senator Schatz.

"I joined my colleagues in introducing the Delivering Support for Hospitals Act to ensure hospitals receive appropriate support to care for Medicaid and uninsured patients," said Senator Cramer. "By establishing a new federal floor for rural states like North Dakota, this legislation will support access to care for our state's most vulnerable patients."

"Hospitals in rural communities like Vermont are seeing more and more Medicaid and low-income patients. These hospitals provide essential health care services, so it's crucial they get the support they need," said Senator Welch. "I am proud to join my colleagues Senators Barrasso, Schatz, and Cramer to introduce this bipartisan legislation to provide stable funding for these hospitals to continue to do the important work of serving our most vulnerable patients."

"On behalf of my department, I would like to thank Senator Barrasso for his leadership on this issue. Strengthening this program with a minimum state allotment will deliver a needed, meaningful impact to hospitals in Wyoming." - Stefan Johansson, Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) director

"Delivering care in rural and frontier areas, which is what we face in most of Wyoming, simply costs more and includes specific challenges such as staff recruitment and retention. By correcting this unfair imbalance, this bill offers a much-needed lifeline to the community facilities in our state that we can't afford to lose." - Lee Grossman, State Medicaid Agent and Division of Healthcare Financing Senior Administrator with WDH

"Wyoming has been among the states with a very low allotment from this program, which is supposed to target hospital sustainability in areas that serve a higher share of low-income individuals." - Jesse Springer, Division of Health Care Financing Deputy Administrator with WDH

The Delivering Support for Hospitals (DSH) Act:

  • Establishes a federal floor of $20 million for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) program, which will then grow at a "low" DSH percentage inflation (CPI) rate after the first five years.
  • Increases DSH payments Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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