Sen Thune Bill Would Improve Access, Availability of Rural Health Care

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015 (S 1916), a bill that wold amend the Communications Act to permit skilled nursing facilities (SNF) to apply for support from the Universal Service Fund's (USF) Rural Health Care Program (RHCP). The Communications Act specifies which types of health care providers are eligible to receive RHCP support, of which SNFs are currently not included.

“For many South Dakotans, it is not as easy as jumping in the car and driving down to the local hospital for a checkup, which is why access to rural health care, including telemedicine, is such an important issue for South Dakota families,” said Chairman Thune. “This common-sense bill would support and improve the health care services that skilled nursing facilities can provide to our rural communities by allowing them access to much-needed funds that are currently out of reach. My legislation achieves this goal without raising the existing cap on the Universal Service Fund.”