Reed Legislative Priorities Included in House Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Yesterday, the House released a plan that included priority legislation sponsored by Congressman Tom Reed (NY-23). Included in this outline is the extension of four critical health care programs to New York’s 23^rd District: Medicare Dependent Hospitals, Low Volume Hospitals, Community Health Centers, and the Special Diabetes Program. The plan funds these vital programs for two years and keep our government working for the American people.

Reed has sponsored or co-sponsored these programs through various pieces of legislation and has been an active voice in making sure they were part of the funding plan.

“Extending the funding for our rural hospitals and health care centers is a major win for our region,” Reed said. “These dollars help keep the doors open and critical services available to our communities. It also ensures our seniors have access to the care they deserve.” 

As Co-Chair of the Diabetes Caucus, Reed has been working to ensure the Special Diabetes Program was prioritized as well.

“The Special Diabetes Program has provided funding that has resulted in monumental breakthroughs in the effort to cure diabetes. Continuing to fund this program is essential to finding a cure to the disease,” Reed added. 

Additionally, this plan fully funds our military through the end of 2018.

“Our military men and women deserve to have the equipment they need to defend our nation. We owe it to them to make sure they have the proper funding to carry out their duties,” Reed stated. For more information click here.

“Jones Memorial Hospital and other rural hospitals around the state depend on these funds to assist us in providing access to quality care for our rural communities. Jones Memorial Hospital is located in Allegany County, one of the poorest counties in New York State and is a considerable distance from hospitals with comparable services; our community depends on us. We appreciate and applaud Congressman Reed‘s leadership in securing the extension of Low Volume and Medicare Dependent reimbursement for the next two years. Thank you from the citizens of Allegany County and other rural communities across New York State and the nation,” Eva Benedict, CEO of Jones Memorial Hospital.

“Medicare-dependent small rural hospitals across the country applaud Congress, and especially Congressman Reed, for reauthorizing a vital Medicare program that ensures the viability of and access to hospital services in the nation‘s rural communities,” said Eric Zimmerman, an advocate for the Medicare Dependent Small Rural Hospital Coalition. “Without these hospitals, many residents of rural communities would be without timely access to hospital care, and without this support, many of these hospitals would not survive. Mr. Reed has been a long-time champion of these hospitals, and we thank him for once again standing up for rural healthcare,” Zimmerman added.

“We are encouraged to see that funding for the Special Diabetes Program is including in the proposed continuing resolution and we are especially grateful to Congressman Reed and the Diabetes Caucus for their continued leadership in making diabetes a national priority. We hope that this is one of many steps toward long-term funding for initiatives like SDP that support lifesaving diabetes research, prevention and treatment for millions of Americans,” Meghan Riley, Vice President of Federal Government Affairs, American Diabetes Association

“The Medicare Dependent Hospital program and Low-Volume payment adjustment are crucial for rural hospitals and the patients and communities they serve,” said HANYS President Bea Grause. “We thank Rep. Reed for his leadership in working to preserve these key programs, while also helping to secure relief from Medicaid DSH cuts that simply cannot be sustained by the hospitals and health systems serving vulnerable populations across New York State.”

“The renewal of the Special Diabetes Program is key in continuing groundbreaking diabetes research and ensuring the most vulnerable patients with diabetes have access to prevention and education programs. We are grateful to Diabetes Caucus Co-Chairs, Rep. Tom Reed and Rep. Diana DeGette who led the effort to include the SDP in the CR so this important research and prevention program would not go unfunded,” Dr. Robert Lash, the Endocrine Society‘s Chief Professional and Clinical Affairs Officer.

“As co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, Rep. Reed has been a great champion for the T1D community, advocating for important victories like the recent CMS decision to expand Medicare access to diabetes technology. He‘s also been front and center for us as we look to Congress to pass a multi-year renewal of the Special Diabetes Program and the vital funding it provides so that life-changing diabetes research can move forward. Researchers around the country are waiting to build on past successes and continue promising clinical trials that will lead to better treatments, prevention, and ultimately, a cure for T1D,” Derek K. Rapp, President & CEO, JDRF.

Congressman Tom Reed represents the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes Regions of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives.  He is a member on the House Ways and Means Committee, and serves on the Subcommittee on Health, Subcommittee on Trade, and the Subcommittee on Human Resources. He is Co-Chair of the Diabetes Caucus and the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

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SOURCE Rep. Tom Reed

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