Southern West Virginia News

Washington D.C. – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) has written an op-ed in the Register-Herald emphasizing the importance of providing adequate resources to rural hospitals for effective patient care.

"No matter where you live in the United States, health care is expensive. In West Virginia, we are blessed with the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, gorgeous forests, and plentiful water, but these things can pose challenges to those who need medical assistance. They can also lead to even higher costs for care," Miller wrote. "Despite what the government or the medical giants may tell you, there cannot be a one-size-fits-all health care solution. For example, West Virginia and New York City have drastically different needs, and I’m working in Congress to advocate on behalf of our rural health care patients and providers."

Miller highlighted her role on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee where she advocates for quality health care access in rural areas. She noted that when rural health systems are overwhelmed, it affects the entire healthcare system.

"Due to a lack of resources, rural hospitals have more difficulty training nurses and doctors," Miller stated. "That’s why it is critical that the government makes investments into the health care workforce."

To address this issue, Miller introduced the Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students (TEAMS) Act. The act aims to provide medical students with training opportunities in rural areas to help them understand specific challenges and practice alongside local healthcare workers.

"The Community TEAMS Act will help remedy the workforce shortage so many rural hospitals are facing," she said. "By training medical students in underserved areas of our country, we are laying the foundation for better health care in the U.S."

Miller acknowledged that while there are benefits to living in rural areas, accessing quality healthcare remains a challenge.

"In West Virginia, it can take hours to get to the nearest hospital. In a medical emergency, every minute counts," she noted.

She discussed how many hospitals in West Virginia qualify as Critical Access Hospitals due to their remote locations and limited capacity. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services created a 'mountainous terrain exception' allowing these hospitals within 15 miles of another provider instead of 35 miles due to rugged terrain.

"This is critical in West Virginia as we have the most mountainous Critical Access Hospitals in the country," Miller explained. However, she pointed out that ambulance services were not included under this exception.

"I introduced a bill that fixes this issue by allowing Critical Access Hospitals in mountainous areas to receive fair compensation for their ambulance services," Miller said.

The Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites (PEAKS) Act aims to ensure fair compensation for ambulance services provided by Critical Access Hospitals located within 15 miles of other providers if no other ambulance service is available nearby.

"It’s imperative that all patients...can access emergency medical care," she stressed.

Miller concluded by stating her commitment towards practical solutions rather than just identifying problems: "The Community TEAMS Act and PEAKS Act provide support to rural hospitals and ensure patients can access quality care."

She believes that if these bills become law, they will bridge healthcare disparities between urban and rural areas across America.

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