We have long questioned the federal policies that harm health care in West Virginia by imposing guidelines that are more suited for urban areas. That’s why the efforts of U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and U.S. Rep. Carol Miller should be applauded, and why their fellow lawmakers should support the PEAKS Act.

The Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites Act is a vital step toward recognizing the geographic and logistical realities of life in rural Appalachia. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that Critical Access Hospitals in mountainous areas receive fair compensation for ambulatory services and are not penalized when new hospitals are built within 15 miles — a rule that may make sense in urban settings but is dangerously flawed when applied to the terrain of West Virginia.

“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.

Capito further emphasized the need to revisit the logic behind current distance requirements.

“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.’ 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,” she said.

And Capito put the stakes into context with a truth we can’t afford to ignore: “West Virginia traditionally has had some difficult health statistics. 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, spoke to the life-or-death nature of the issue.

“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. It’s imperative that all patients, especially those that live in unforgiving terrain, can access emergency medical care,” she said.

The legislation has earned broad support, including from the West Virginia Hospital Association.

“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.

Hospital associations from California, Arkansas, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming have also voiced their support.

Congress must act. We urge lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to join Sen. Capito and Rep. Miller in backing this smart, compassionate bill. And we call on President Trump to sign the PEAKS Act into law the moment it reaches his desk.

Rural health care in West Virginia depends on it.