Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Vizient, Inc. hosted a policy briefing titled, "Rural Healthcare Realities: Hospitals' Efforts to Bridge the Access Gap," at the Rayburn House Office Building. The event featured remarks from Reps. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH). Attended by an overflowing audience of more than 100 congressional staff and industry stakeholders, the briefing focused on the significant challenges rural healthcare providers and patients face and highlighted the vital role hospitals play in ensuring access to care.

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From left, Russ Gronewold, Rebecca Blaesing-Bauer, Michael McCoy and Andrew Thomas participate in the Vizient-hosted policy briefing, “Rural Healthcare Realities: Hospitals' Efforts to Bridge the Access Gap” at the Rayburn House Office Building September 11, 2024. (Photo: Business Wire)

"As a physician and Co-Chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus, improving patient outcomes and expanding access to care in rural areas is a top priority,” said Rep. Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. “Timely access to care, no matter where patients live, is essential—which is why I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation building on the telehealth flexibilities, including extending the Medicare Acute Hospital Care at Home program, among other initiatives. I appreciate Vizient’s leadership in bringing together healthcare experts, including those from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, to address the stability and sustainability of rural healthcare.”

Rep. Jill Tokuda, co-founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, added, “Where you live shouldn't determine the access and quality of healthcare you receive. Yet, for too many in rural America, these disparities are literally taking years off of people's lives. In places like my home state of Hawaiʻi and across our country, rural hospitals are lifelines for communities, and we must ensure they have the resources and support to remain operational. I look forward to continuing our efforts with the Caucus, providers, and partners like Vizient to tackle these pressing challenges.”

Rebecca Blaesing-Bauer, senior vice president, networks at Vizient, moderated a discussion featuring a distinguished panel of key healthcare leaders, including:

• Russ Gronewold, MBA, president & CEO, Bryan Health
• Michael McCoy, MD, president & CEO, Great River Health
• Andrew Thomas, MD, MBA, FACP, chief clinical officer, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

The panel of experts highlighted several ongoing challenges facing rural healthcare providers, such as workforce recruitment and retention difficulties, reduced access to essential services such as maternal care, and significant administrative and financial burdens. The panelists proposed various solutions to improve patient access and care delivery in rural areas. Key recommendations included protecting the 340B program, extending telehealth waivers, increasing graduate medical education spots to support the healthcare workforce, and opposing site-neutral payment cuts and reductions to the CMS physician fee schedule, among other strategies.

Vizient is committed to working with policymakers, industry stakeholders, and healthcare providers to improve rural healthcare and will continue sharing insights and policy recommendations to support this effort.

Learn more about Vizient's advocacy and public policy efforts.

About Vizient, Inc.

Vizient, Inc., the nation's largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company, serves more than 65% of the nation's acute care providers, including 97% of the nation's academic medical centers, and more than 35% of the non-acute market. The Vizient contract portfolio represents $140 billion in annual purchasing volume enabling the delivery of cost-effective, high-value care. With its acquisition of Kaufman Hall in 2024, Vizient expanded its advisory services to help providers achieve financial, strategic, clinical and operational excellence. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.

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