This report originally appeared in the February 2010 issue of DOTmed Business News

Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) has introduced S. 2838, the Rural Health Access and Improvement Act of 2009. This bill would give critical access hospitals priority in receiving grants under the Public Health Service Act, to assist in promotion of hospital health information technology. Under federal law, grants may be awarded to eligible entities to assist developing health care delivery systems for uninsured and underinsured communities, to expand and enhance services, and to assist communities in developing programs for prevention and management of disease.

The participation for the grants would be extended to 1) children's hospitals excluded from the Medicare prospective payment system or a free-standing cancer hospital excluded from the Medicare prospective payment system; 2) an entity that is a critical access hospital; 3) an entity that is a rural referral center; 4) a sole community hospital that has a disproportionate share adjustment percentage equal to or greater than eight percent; or 5) an entity that is a rural health clinic.
The bill also provides for a General Accounting Office study and report of the cost in each state for dispensing prescription drugs under the Medicaid program. This study could include reasonable costs associated with pharmacists checking for Medicaid coverage of individuals, clinical review and quality assurance activities, and activities to identify and reduce the frequency of patterns of fraud, abuse and gross overuse, as well as inappropriate or medically unnecessary care among physicians, pharmacists and patients.

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