Northwest PA News

Rep. Kathy L. Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest), the Republican chair of the House Health Committee, recently participated in a Rural Hospitals Roundtable in Harrisburg to discuss the challenges facing rural health care. During the discussion, Rapp highlighted various issues that affect rural communities, such as the need to travel long distances for medical appointments, limited access to specialists, broadband connectivity problems, and staffing shortages.

Rapp acknowledged that these challenges were not surprising to those who grew up in rural areas. She emphasized the importance of not only identifying these issues but also finding effective solutions to address them. Rapp stated, "While it's unlikely we will ever solve the distance between major hospitals in rural communities, there is work being done to improve transportation to health care centers."

One of the key areas of focus mentioned during the roundtable was the need for increased rural broadband connectivity. Rapp mentioned that the Commonwealth is actively seeking federal funding to enhance internet access in rural areas. Additionally, representatives from Penn State College of Medicine discussed Project ECHO, a program aimed at supporting and retaining rural health care providers.

Rapp stressed the significance of funding models in implementing new strategies to improve rural health care. She noted that many of the innovative approaches discussed at the roundtable were made possible through a shift in funding models. Instead of relying solely on patient volume to generate revenue, the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model is testing a global budget system to improve access to high-quality health care for rural Pennsylvanians.

However, Rapp expressed concerns about the sustainability of these programs if they are not widely adopted. She also mentioned a potential challenge posed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which recently introduced a new health care funding model called Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD). Rapp pointed out that the AHEAD model focuses on cost savings and aims to expand participation beyond rural areas, which contradicts the goals of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model.

Throughout the roundtable, Rapp commended the efforts of rural hospitals in maximizing their resources to provide quality care. She highlighted the numerous ideas shared during the discussion as evidence of their dedication. However, Rapp emphasized that without adequate funding, these efforts may not yield the desired outcomes. She concluded, "All this good work will be for nothing if we fail to fund rural hospitals fairly."

The roundtable provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and potential solutions for improving rural health care. Rapp's participation and statements underscore the urgent need for support and resources to ensure that rural communities have access to quality health care services.