Rep. Jenkins and Kind Introduce The Rural Access to Hospice Act

Press release

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-R) and Congressman Ron Kind (WI-D) introduced H.R. 1828, the Rural Access to Hospice Act. This legislation will correct a barrier in the Medicare system and grant more access to more Americans and save the Medicare system money.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins
Official Congressional Photograph

“The Rural Access to Hospice Act will allow Rural Health Centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers to receive payment for serving as the hospice attending physician. Undoubtedly this will help grant access to hospice care for more Americans living in rural parts of our country,” said Rep. Jenkins. “Many Americans wish to receive care in the comfortable setting of a hospice care center, in communication with their doctor of many years. The Rural Access to Hospice Act will allow those people to do that, and help them get quality, affordable care closer to home.”

“In light of the shortages of health providers in our rural areas we should be making it easier not harder for those professionals who are already treating a patient to continue to treat them as they go into hospice care. For Wisconsinites and families going through the transition to hospice having the same qualified health care professionals treat them all the way to the end offers great comfort and stability,” said Rep. Kind.