Capito, Miller push PEAKS Act to protect rural West Virginia hospitals

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has teamed up with Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., in support of a bill to protect rural hospitals.

Capito and Miller, along with Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., are backing the Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites Act, or PEAKS Act.

The legislation would ensure Critical Access Hospitals in mountainous areas receive fair compensation for ambulatory services and would modify distance requirements.

“We’re excited about making sure Critical Access Hospitals in mountainous areas such as what we have are able to take advantage of certain reimbursement plans,” Capito said Thursday.

The act would also ensure that Critical Access Hospitals would not lose their designation despite any new hospital that is built within 15 miles, Capito said.

“We’ve seen in the Mountain State where it may say, ‘Well, you’re 10 miles from the nearest hospital, so these are the types of reimbursements you can get,’” she said. “Well, in a lot of ways, 10 miles in West Virginia can be 30 minutes or it can be an hour depending on where you are.”

The state has some of the worst health rankings in the country, making access to health care in rural areas all the more important, Capito said.

“West Virginia traditionally has had some difficult health statistics,” she said. “I think we have to maintain access and open access, and I think that’s what the PEAKS Act does.”

Miller, who represents the southern part of the state, said it’s often difficult for residents who live in rural, mountainous areas to get treatment in a timely manner.

“The PEAKS Act is life-saving legislation that will ensure Critical Access Hospitals in mountainous areas are compensated fairly for the ambulatory services they provide to patients and positively impact rural communities across the nation,” Miller said. “It’s imperative that all patients, especially those that live in unforgiving terrain, can access emergency medical care.”

The West Virginia Hospital Association released a statement expressing support for the legislation.

“The PEAKS Act is a strong step toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of rural health care, and we’re proud to support this important effort,” said Jim Kaufman, the association’s president and CEO.

The California Hospital Association, Arkansas Hospital Association, Hospital Association of Oregon, Utah Hospital Association and Wyoming Hospital Association have also voiced support for the bill.