John Barrasso

Legislation Would Improve Quality and Access to Care in Rural Areas

May 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C – In an effort to improve the quality of health care available to rural Americans, a bipartisan group of four senators introduced legislation that would make improve Medicare reimbursement formulas for rural health care providers.

The bill is called the Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Providers Equity Act of 2009, or R-HoPE. It is named after the former senator from Wyoming, a co-sponsor of the original bill who passed away in 2007 after complications from leukemia.

The legislation, introduced late Thursday, is now co-sponsored by Sens. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and John Barrasso, R-Wyo. It is listed as S.1157.    » read more »