Rural Hospital Legislation Clears First Hurdle

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer’s legislation to permanently extend two Medicare payment programs that are critical to rural hospitals in Upstate New York has cleared a key hurdle with its passage in the Senate Finance Committee.

These programs, which are crucial to the hospitals, their employees and the rural communities that they serve, must be renewed every year. Schumer’s legislation would make these payments for both Low-Volume Hospitals and Medicare Dependent Hospitals permanent.

The Low Volume Hospital Program impacts 18 New York hospitals, including Chenango Memorial Hospital, providing Medicare support to hospitals that are very important to rural communities, but do not necessarily serve a high volume of patients. Schumer’s legislation, which he introduced with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), extended these programs permanently.

Schumer’s legislation must now pass the full Senate.