WASHINGTON – On Thursday, November 21, National Rural Health Day, Senator Doug Jones (D-Ala.) attended a bipartisan meeting on rural health hosted by Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar. Senator Jones thanked Secretary Azar for their work together to change the outdated Medicare Wage Index formula that was disproportionately hurting Alabama hospitals. He also highlighted the importance of expanding Medicaid and the positive impact that would have on rural health and discussed the overlap between racial and rural health disparities.
“This was a productive conservation about ways we can work across the aisle to improve health care in rural communities across the country. I’m looking forward to continuing to work closely with my colleagues and HHS to ensure that everyone has access to the health care they need no matter where they live,” said Senator Jones, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee.
Secretary Azar said, “I am grateful to the Members of Congress who joined me today for their leadership on rural health, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with them to deliver a healthcare system that delivers for all Americans the affordability they need, the options and control they want, and the quality they deserve.”
Senator Jones has taken a number of actions to increase access to quality and affordable health care, particularly in rural areas, including:
- Introducing legislation to incentivize states to expand Medicaid;
- Introducing a bipartisan bill to address the high demand for qualified nurses in rural areas;
- Cosponsoring a bipartisan bill to end rural disparities in maternal health
Also attending the meeting were Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Representatives Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) and Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.).
Media Release/Caroline Stoneciper/Office of Alabama Snator Doug Jones
