Chuck Grassley Praises Trump Admin. and Dr. Oz for Expanding Rural Hospital Payment Program

Rural Hospital Challenges

• ⚠️ Many rural hospitals in America are under the gun, with some facing closure.
• 📌 Iowa alone has approximately 90 rural hospitals, highlighting the significant impact of these closures.

Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program

• 💡 The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program is designed to test innovative payment models to support rural hospitals.
• 🎯 This program specifically aids hospitals that are too large for critical access status but too small for the standard Medicare inpatient prospective payment system.
• 🏥 Currently, four Iowa hospitals in Fort Dodge, Grenell, Newton, and Spirit Lake are benefiting from this program.

Expansion and New Additions

• 🚀 On May 14th, CMS administrator Dr. Oz announced 10 new hospitals will be added to the demonstration program.
• 📝 Hospitals that applied but were not selected will be placed on a waitlist for future openings.
• 👏 Senator Grassley appreciates the Trump administration for taking action to support rural America by expanding this program.