| Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced his support of several legislative proposals that would improve the rural health care system. Following a review by the state trauma commission, Kildee was alarmed by the lack of vital medical services available to rural communities. Kildee is committed to providing immediate access to health care in rural areas of Michigan.
“We must design a comprehensive plan that will enable rural communities to receive the same care that urban communities enjoy,” said Kildee. “In order to reduce the number of fatalities, we must create a statewide system that responds immediately to the health care needs of rural communities.”
Many of the rural areas in Michigan are unable to receive adequate medical services because there is no statewide system to respond to medical emergencies. According to the Bureau of Health Services, a division of the Department of Consumer and Industry Services, Michigan is one of only five states without a coordinated system that provides an exact protocol for patients with severe injuries. As a result, patients are forced to waste precious time trying to figure out which doctors and hospitals handle certain cases. According to a 1996 Michigan Preventable Mortality Study, up to 18% of traumatic injury fatalities are preventable.
In response to constituent concerns, Congressman Kildee has cosponsored two pieces of legislation that would enhance the delivery of health care in rural communities. Kildee has cosponsored of the Sustaining Access to Vital Emergency Medical Services Act of 2001 (H.R. 1353). This bill would create a grant program, which would provide assistance to rural EMS providers to recruit, train and retain EMS personnel. Additionally, grant money would be used to purchase new vehicles and equipment. The National Rural Health Association, the American Ambulance Association and the American Heart Association have all endorsed H.R. 1353.
In order to overcome the disparities between rural and urban health care systems, Kildee has cosponsored the Rural Health Care Improvement Act of 2001 (H.R. 2157). Many rural hospitals and other rural health care providers are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of providing health care to rural communities. H.R. 2157 addresses those financial inequalities by equalizing payments and Medicare reimbursements between rural and urban hospitals. In addition, the bill provides grants for the modernization of rural facilities and funding for state-of-the-art equipment. The National Rural Health Association, the American Hospital Association, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics and the American College of Pathologists support H.R. 2157. |
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