Testimony of the NRHA
At the federal level, a hearing is a meeting or session of a committee or subcommittee of the Senate, House, Joint or Special Committee of Congress. These hearings are usually open to the public and are intended to obtain information and opinions on proposed legislation, conduct an investigation or evaluate/oversee the activities of a government department or the implementation of a Federal law. In addition, hearings may also be purely exploratory in nature, providing testimony and data about topics of current interest.
The NRHA and its membership are often invited to testify as part of these Congressional hearings. We usually inform our members of this testimony and what we said through our eNews and on our web site. We list our official testimony below in chronological order.
2008
Appropriations Hearing in the House Labor-HHS Subcommittee
On March 13, NRHA President Paul Moore testified before the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. The hearing focused on the needed funding of public health programs. Mr. Moore testified that the rural health safety net needed to be fully funded by Congress.
- Read Mr. Moore's testimony to the House Labor-HHS Sub-Committee on our web site.
Workforce Training Hearing in the Senate HELP Committee
On February 12, NRHA President-Elect Beth Landon testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The hearing focused on workforce training challenges. Ms. Landon testified that rural America faces a looming health workforce crisis and that Congress needs to act immediately to address it. Public policy priorities cited by Ms. Landon included Title VII and VIII including the Area Health Education Center program reauthorizations, National Health Service Corps expansion, rural Graduate Medical Education payments and a fair reimbursement structure.
- Read Ms. Landon's testimony to the Senate HELP Committee on our web site.
- Read Ms. Landon's response to follow up questions from the Senate HELP Committee on our web site.
Medicare Advantage PFFS Hearing in the Senate Finance Committee
On January 30, Daryl Weaver of Yazoo, Miss., testified before the Senate Finance Committee on behalf of the NRHA. The hearing focused on Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans. Mr. Weaver testified that rural providers, especially Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Health Clinics, are not paid appropriately by Medicare Advantage PFFS plans and that this threatens the rural health safety net. His testimony also included concern that rural seniors are being incorrectly enrolled in Medicare Advantage PFFS plans.
- Read Mr. Weaver's testimony to the Senate Finance Committee on our web site.
2007
Rural Summit in House Appropriations Subcommittee
On June 27, NRHA Board Member Greg Dent testified before the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations. The hearing was a Rural Summit to address the needs of rural America that can be addressed by the House Appropriations Committee. Mr. Dent's testimony included discussion of rural health's impact on the local economy, the need for adequate payments and the expansion of grants for infrastructure and health information technology.
- Read Mr. Dent's testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee.
Testimony for Official Record of House Veterans Affairs Committee
On June 14, Rural Health Congress Chair Andy Behrman, US Navy (retired), submitted testimony for the record of a House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Health hearing. The hearing focused on H.R. 2005, the Rural Veterans Health care Improvement Act of 2007. Mr. Behrman's testimony focused on increasing access points and targeting care for rural veterans, increasing traumatic brain injury care and improving the Office of Rural Health.
- Read Mr. Behrman's testimony for the official record of House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing.
Medicare Advantage PFFS Hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee
On May 22, NRHA Board Member Brock Slabach testified before the Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee on behalf of the NRHA. The hearing focused on Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans. Mr. Slabach testified that rural providers, especially Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Health Clinics, are not paid appropriately by Medicare Advantage PFFS plans and that this threatens the rural health safety net. His testimony also included concern that rural seniors are being incorrectly enrolled in Medicare Advantage PFFS plans.
- Read Mr. Slabach's testimony before the Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Health Access for Veterans in the House Veterans Affairs Committee
On April 17, Rural Health Congress Chair Andy Behrman, US Navy (retired), testified to the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The oversight hearing looked to address how easy it is to access health care for vets. Mr. Behrman's testimony focused on rural veterans and the need to increase access points to care and to improve the Office of Rural Health.
- Read Mr. Behrman's testimony before the Health Subcommittee of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
- Read Mr. Behrman's response to follow up questions to the hearing.
