WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) Wednesday announced an agreement between U.S. House and Senate leaders regarding the Air Passenger Bill of Rights as well as the introduction of a new bipartisan rural health care bill.
The agreement pertains to legislation seeking to ensure airline customers receive necessities (such as access to food and water, comfortable cabin temperatures and adequate restrooms) and are protected against long delays after boarding, according to Thompson.
“Passengers have rights — and because of this legislation those rights are now protected by law,” Thompson said.
“While I am disappointed that excessive delay was not defined as being three hours or more, I am confident that we can build on these new protections to make sure passengers are treated with dignity and respect when they fly,” he added.
Congressional leaders announced Tuesday night that they reached an agreement on long-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) legislation, of which the Air Passenger Bill of Rights would be a part, Thompson said.
The proposed laws would enhance American aviation infrastructure, modernize the air traffic control system and reform FAA programs, Thompson said.
He added that current U.S. Department of Transportation rules state passengers must be given the chance to deplane after excessive delays and be provided with basic necessities, but those regulations could be rescinded at any time under a current or future administration.
Thompson argued the new legislation would guarantee consumer protection now and in the future.
Thompson also announced he introduced a new bill Wednesday with Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) to help rural communities striving to access better health care.
“The quality of health care you receive should not depend on whether you”re from a big city or small town,” Thompson said in a statement.
“Ensuring everyone has access to high quality, affordable health care isn”t a Republican priority or Democrat priority — it is a national priority. That is why I am proud to be working across the aisle with Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers to make sure that rural America has access to health care,” he added.
The bipartisan bill is H.R. 3859, the Rural Hospital and Provider Equity (R-HOPE) Act of 2012.
“As someone who grew up on a family farm, I know that rural communities in Eastern Washington have unique needs — particularly when it comes to accessing quality health care,” McMorris Rodgers said.
“In fact, one county in Eastern Washington doesn”t have a single primary care physician. Furthermore, when it comes to federal policies, rural communities are often left out of the decision-making process,” she added.
Thompson estimated one-fourth of Americans live in rural areas and rely on community hospitals, clinics and independent doctors.
The legislation would help rural facilities overcome challenges such as remote location, small size, workforce scarcity, physician shortages and constrained financial resources, Thompson added.
Alan Morgan, CEO for the nonprofit National Rural Health Association, spoke highly of the bipartisan effort.
“This legislation will go far in ensuring that rural providers have the necessary tools to provide quality care for all rural Americans. We encourage the passage of this vital legislation,” he said.
According to Thompson, the R-HOPE Act of 2012 would bring parity to rural communities by:
– Increasing payments to rural hospitals, as part of Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) programs, to the levels that urban facilities receive in order to better reflect the actual costs of providing care;
– Improving payments for lab services in rural hospitals;
– Continuing geographic reclassification for certain hospitals in sparsely populated states;
– Ensuring adequate rural representation on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC);
– Raising Rural Health Clinic reimbursements to more appropriately cover costs;
– Extending several expiring Medicare incentive payments for rural practitioners, including physicians practicing in areas with few medical doctors, rural ambulance providers and specific classes of rural hospitals.
