YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – Rep. Mike Thompson convened a healthcare roundtable Feb. 6 in Yuba City, bringing together rural hospital leaders, community health clinics, county health officials and local elected leaders to discuss access to care across California’s 4th Congressional District.
Thompson, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, led the discussion on challenges facing rural providers. Participants focused on hospital sustainability, rising costs and barriers to care in remote areas.
“Access to high quality, affordable health care is important, but can be very challenging, especially in rural areas,” Thompson said.
Thompson said legislation enacted this summer reduced Medicaid funding by $1 trillion. He said the reductions place added pressure on rural hospitals and medical centers. He also cited higher premiums following the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits.
“I heard from health care leaders today that these new cuts threaten to accelerate closures and further limit access to care in rural communities, which means everyone loses access to care regardless of their coverage,” Thompson said. “And, when patients are under or uninsured, doctors and medical facilities suffer, too.”
Healthcare leaders told Thompson that rural providers already operate with narrow margins. They said additional funding losses could lead to service reductions or closures, particularly in communities with limited alternatives for emergency and specialty care.
Thompson said he plans to work with local providers and community members to address the funding concerns. He said he will push to reverse the Medicaid cuts and reinstate the enhanced ACA tax credits.
“I am committed to working with our local providers and community members to reverse these devastating cuts, help prevent closures, and work to reinstate the enhanced ACA tax credits,” Thompson said.
Thompson serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees healthcare, tax, trade, Social Security and income security policy. He is the ranking member of the Tax Subcommittee and a senior member of the Health Subcommittee, where he works on legislation to expand access to telehealth services. He also belongs to the Blue Dog Coalition.