Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, co-chair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, and Colorado U.S. Representative Jeff Hurd held a roundtable discussion with rural health providers on the Western Slope, including rural hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, assisted living centers, and large regional hospitals, to discuss challenges to providing high-quality care in Colorado’s rural communities.
“Rural health care providers across Colorado are struggling to support their communities as they face growing workforce shortages and increased financial strain,” said Bennet. “We must protect and modernize the federal programs that help keep them afloat. I’m glad to have the opportunity to join Representative Hurd and our rural health providers to discuss the best path forward.”
“Your zip code shouldn’t determine the quality of your healthcare,” said Hurd. “Rural communities face serious challenges, and I am committed to making sure they are not overlooked. Protecting and expanding rural healthcare in Colorado’s Third District is not just a priority, it is a necessity.”
“Western Colorado Healthcare is unique in our great state. From the vastly different topography, limited access to some areas, and the changing economic landscape, each rural hospital has different challenges,” said Dr. Korrey Klein, President and CEO, Family Health West in Fruita, Colorado. “With a shared interest that zip codes should not determine health outcomes, I was proud to host Representative Hurd, Senator Bennet and other western slope healthcare organizations to discuss the economic impact that Medicaid has on our communities.”
“Community Health Centers are safety net providers with integrated primary, behavioral health, and dental care. The Medicaid unwind has already put an enormous economic strain on us – substantially increasing charity care and write-offs of bad debt,” said Kay Ramachandran, CEO, Marillac Health. “Potential Medicaid cuts on top of this are alarming and will create unprecedented strain with an increase in the number of un- and under-insured members of our community. This will snowball into increased cost of care all around and everyone of us will feel that impact. We are blessed to live and work in a community where our elected officials want to hear firsthand from us. I was glad to have the opportunity to join other health care leaders from the Western Slope to meet with Senator Bennet and Congressman Hurd.”
“I am grateful for the attention that Senator Bennet and Congressman Hurd have had on this critical issue and for the opportunity to share Mountain Family Health Center’s story and the stories of the 20,000 patients we serve,” said Dustin Moyer, CEO, Mountain Family Health Centers. “For too long, life-improving healthcare has been out of reach for many in our community, and for those who are able to receive consistent healthcare, this access is often precarious as health coverage is not guaranteed. These challenges are exacerbated for many on Colorado’s Western Slope where the cost of living and healthcare is often higher. When these dynamics are coupled with disinvestment in the segments of the health care system that consistently improve health outcomes and reduce total cost of care, namely Medicaid, Medicare, primary care, and community health, this puts at risk the lives and livelihoods of countless individuals, families, and communities. I am optimistic that with Senator Bennet and Congressman Hurd’s collective leadership, we can identify an opportunity to ensure access to high quality care for all within our community.”
Bennet is a leading voice in Congress on expanding access to affordable health care in rural communities. He championed the Hospital Revitalization Act to help small hospitals rebuild and modernize their facilities, the Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act to provide regulatory relief for rural health clinics, and the Medicare-X Choice Act to expand access to affordable health care across the country and support rural health providers. Last year, Bennet led and passed a bipartisan resolution to designate November 21st as “National Rural Health Day.” This year, Bennet urged Senate Republican leadership against making harmful cuts to Medicaid and introduced, cosponsored, and voted on numerous amendments to the Budget Resolution that would have protected Medicaid.