Senate committee backs resolution urging flexibility in rural health transformation program

The Senate Health and Social Services Committee on March 10 reported House Joint Resolution 32 (also referenced as ACR 32) urging federal and state partners to address tight timelines and inflexibilities tied to the rural health transformation program. Chair Senator Dunbar opened the brief presentation and invited Laurie Winghire, the Legislature’s health-care liaison, to summarize the committee’s concerns.

Laurie Winghire told the committee HJR/ACR 32 was drafted to express the Legislature’s concern about “tight time frames and some of the inflexibility” surrounding the federal rural health transformation program and asked the congressional delegation, the governor and the Department of Health to work with the Legislature on possible amendments or time extensions to address infrastructure and other implementation issues.

The committee opened public testimony and heard none. A committee member moved to report the resolution from committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note; there were no objections. The committee took a brief recess to sign paperwork.

The committee did not take additional policy action on implementation details during the hearing. The resolution calls for coordination and possible statutory or administrative adjustments to give rural providers more time and flexibility to meet program requirements. The committee’s action forwards the nonbinding expression of concern to the next procedural step with the committee’s recommendations.