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Sen. Moran Introduces Bill to Preserve Rural Health Care Access

PARTS Act would protect rural Americans' access to important therapy services

Jun 12 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), along with U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) – members of the Senate Rural Health Caucus – today introduced S. 1143, the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, to make sure that rural and other patients have access to a full range of outpatient therapeutic services in their own communities. “Outpatient therapeutic services” include services such as drug infusions, blood transfusions, and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services.

These health care services have always been administered by licensed, skilled medical professionals in hospitals under the overall direction of a physician. However, in its attempt to clarify existing regulations in 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) retroactively interpreted existing policy in place since 2001 to require that a supervising physician be physically present in the department at all times when Medicare beneficiaries receive outpatient therapy services, the majority of which are low risk. 

“CMS’ policy does not take into account the realities of rural health care. Many Kansas hospitals, and other rural hospitals across the country, find these supervision requirements impossible to meet – jeopardizing continued access to these important health care services,” Sen. Moran said. “Small and rural hospitals, where medical workforce shortages are most severe, need reasonable flexibility to appropriately staff their facilities so they can continue to provide a full range of services to their communities. The PARTS Act is a commonsense solution that would preserve patient safety and ease unreasonable regulations on hospitals.”

“When folks in rural areas get ill, the last thing they need is the added burden of having to travel long distances to get the care they need,” Sen. Tester said.  “This bill allows folks in rural communities to receive care at local Critical Access Hospitals and maintains the high-quality health care rural Americans expect and deserve.”

“Requiring supervising physicians to be present for some outpatient therapy services places an unnecessary strain on the already overextended staff of rural health care facilities,” said Thune. “Further, this CMS requirement can place extraordinary demands on physicians, who are already difficult to recruit to rural areas of the country. I have brought this issue up repeatedly to CMS in Senate Finance Committee hearings and in my personal meetings with CMS Director Marilyn Tavenner without resolution. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to move our common-sense legislation forward, ensuring we provide rural health care facilities in states like South Dakota with the flexibility needed to continue to deliver quality outpatient therapy services without being subjected to budget-busting workforce regulations.”

In response to concerns raised hospitals and lawmakers including Sens. Moran, Thune, and Tester, CMS delayed enforcement of its direct supervision policy through 2013 for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other small, rural hospitals. However, the regulations are scheduled to go into effect in 2014.

The PARTS Act would:

  • Allow general supervision by a physician or non-physician providers for many outpatient therapy services;
  • Require CMS to allow a default setting of general supervision, rather than direct supervision, for outpatient therapy services;
  • Create an advisory panel to establish an exemption process for risky and complex outpatient services;
  • Create a special rule for CAHs that recognizes their unique size and Medicare conditions of participation; and
  • Hold hospitals and CAHs harmless from civil or criminal action regarding CMS’ current direct supervision policy for the period 2001 through 2014.

Click below for a summary of the PARTS Act and  to read the full text of the bill. Sen. Moran introduced a version of this legislation last Congress as S. 778.

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National Metro Business Alliance Endorses Startup Act 3.0

Bill Earns Support From Coalition of Regional Business Associations Representing More Than 35% of U.S. GDP

Jun 10 2013

Washington, D.C. – The National Metropolitan Business Alliance (NMBA), a coalition of regional business associations spanning the country, announced last week its endorsement of Startup Act 3.0.

In a letter, to Startup Act 3.0 sponsor U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), the NMBA said “Startup Act 3.0 would strengthen America’s innovation ecosystem by addressing three critical pieces of the startup ecosystem – capital, talent and commercialization of research – while also strengthening our regulatory structures to better facilitate startup formation and growth.”

Startup Act 3.0 creates both Entrepreneur and STEM Visas for highly-educated and entrepreneurial immigrants to stay in the United States where their talent and new ideas can fuel economic growth and create American jobs. The legislation also modifies the tax code to encourage investment in new businesses, accelerates the commercialization of university research that can lead to new ventures, and seeks to improve the regulatory process.

“America has long been seen as the land of opportunity for innovators and entrepreneurs. We must do everything possible to make certain that remains true,” Sen. Moran said. “At a time when our government should be facilitating economic growth and innovation, America’s archaic policies have us falling behind. We are losing talent and jobs by the day to countries like Canada, Chile, and the United Kingdom that are aggressively courting the world’s best and brightest. We must pass smarter policies, like Startup Act 3.0, or we risk losing the next generation of great entrepreneurs and the jobs they will create to countries that welcome these innovators.”

Sen. Moran Statement on Senate Farm Bill Passage

"The legislation puts vital risk management tools and conservation programs back in place providing farmers and ranchers with the long-term certainty they need to produce food, fiber and fuel for our country and the world."

Jun 10 2013

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement upon passage of the U.S. Senate Farm Bill:

"The Farm Bill passed in the Senate meets the two benchmarks most important to Kansas farmers and ranchers: strong, stable crop insurance and disaster programs to provide livestock producers with confidence when faced with Mother Nature's uncertainty.

Sen. Moran Statement on Need for Long-term Student Loan Solution

"It's time for Congress and the President to pass a student loan policy that provides certainty and reflects the long-term financial planning students and families undertake to pay for higher education."

Jun 04 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement today regarding the importance of finding a permanent solution that will reduce interest rates for all new student loans:

“As a father of two, I understand that education can be a family’s most important investment and ought not be complicated by short-sighted Washington politics. Rather than settling for another ineffective, short-term patch that only helps a portion of students, it’s time for Congress and the President to pass a student loan policy that provides certainty and reflects the long-term financial planning students and families undertake to pay for higher education. In the interest of both students and taxpayers, I support legislation that permanently addresses interest rate levels for all federal student loans.”

 

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On Monday, June 3, 2013, Sen. Moran discussed his amendment to the Farm Bill on the Senate Floor. The amendment requires the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to conduct research and development regarding a policy to insure alfalfa and produce a report describing the results of the study.

I just returned from my home State, your home state, of Kansas to return to the work we are about to do in the Senate. This week away from Washington, D.C., gave me the opportunity to travel really all corners of our State. I went from southeast Kansas in Galena to northwest Kansas in Goodland, and almost every night while I was home weather was the topic of conversation.

Certainly, as Kansans who have experienced tornadoes in our own State over the last week and, certainly, over the life of our State, we extend our deepest sympathies and concerns to the people of Oklahoma. It is weather that I wanted to talk about on the Senate floor today in preparation for an amendment I will offer, which is being offered to the farm bill, and continued discussion of that farm bill throughout this week.

As I listened to Kansas farmers, the most prevalent request when it comes to farm policy, to a request for what ought to be in a farm bill is the request by Kansans that the Crop Insurance remain a solid and viable program. We live in a State in which weather is not always a friend to agriculture. Yet agriculture is our most significant creator of economic activity and generator of jobs and economic growth in our State. We have the pleasure, in fact we are very proud, to feed, clothe, and provide energy to much of the world.

At the moment the challenges are great because of the significant effects the drought has had on Kansas and much of the Midwest. That drought has been ongoing for more than 2 years, and it has had a significant impact upon agricultural production. It is that point I want to make as we debate the farm bill, the importance of the Crop Insurance Program in response to those difficult times.

Despite the drought, our Nation remains the land of plenty, and Americans continue to enjoy the safest and most abundant food supply in the world. The reason we have so much is because of many factors: prayers, the work ethic of American farmers and ranchers, the courage to persevere in spite of enormous challenges, and, among those things, finally, is the ability to manage risk.

Farming and ranching is a high-risk occupation. Producers can't manage the one thing that matters most to them, Mother Nature. Mother Nature is the one variable that can't be controlled. Mother Nature brings drought, rain, wind, and hail, the things a producer must face head on each year and each year to follow.

With the inability to control the weather, we must control what we can--the great risks associated with agriculture. This is required for the United States to remain that land of plenty. The risk management tool of choice is crop insurance.

Crop insurance gives producers a safety net so when there is a drought, a flood, a hailstorm, or windstorm, they can pick up the pieces and try again. This is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. We have the ability to manage our risks so when Mother Nature gives us something bad, our nation's farmers and ranchers can live to start again.

Crop insurance is a public-private partnership. The government helps the producers cover some of the costs of the policy, and the producer covers the rest. Consumers help the producer, and the producer helps the consumer.

To be clear, producers pay a significant part of the premium out of their own pocket. In 2012 they paid $4.1 billion to buy insurance to manage their risks. When you take out a crop insurance policy, you get a bill, not a check.

Crop insurance has virtually replaced the need for ad hoc disaster measures for crops. During my time in the House of Representatives and now in the Senate, going back to 1989, 42 such pieces of legislation have cost the taxpayer more than $70 billion. During my time in the House, and now the Senate, many times we have asked for ad hoc disaster assistance, a bill to pass the legislature to provide assistance at the moment. Crop insurance is the tool by which we can avoid those requests. When you manage risks with crop insurance, you save the taxpayers money and give the producers a better program.

Today, as we have scheduled votes, I have an amendment on the Senate floor dealing with a crop called alfalfa. Alfalfa is the Nation's fourth most valuable crop, and it plays a significant role in our daily lives. Alfalfa is a building block for milk and meat. The hay that is grown in the fields of California, Idaho, South Dakota, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Wisconsin, Kansas, and the rest of the 50 States is a driver of the cost of products on grocery store shelves. The Nation's fourth most valuable crop is vitally important.

The reality is producers are faced with risks, and there is no good way to manage them when it comes to this crop, alfalfa. The current Crop Insurance Program, Forage Production APH, is severely inadequate, as demonstrated by the fact that less than 10 percent of the acres are enrolled in the program—compared to corn, soybeans, and wheat, which are all more than 80 percent.

Producers are going back to the bank to borrow operating money and being told not to plant alfalfa because there is no good way to manage the risk. This is very troubling because of the impact that alfalfa has on the economy and our Nation's food supply.

The crop is important, and we need to figure out a way to manage its risks. Producers are being told to grow crops that have a safety net, crops that have some kind of guarantee when weather is bad. My amendment, No. 987, requires the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to conduct research and development regarding a policy to insure alfalfa and a report describing the results of that study. There are no additional costs to the taxpayer with my amendment.

We need to take a good hard look at alfalfa and recognize its value to the Nation. We need to study and develop something that will work, save taxpayer money, and make certain the land of plenty remains the land of plenty. Alfalfa is a building block of milk and meat. With a risk management tool for alfalfa production, producers will enjoy lower input cost and consumers will enjoy less expensive products on the grocery store shelves.

Mr. President, I know you understand the value of agriculture in Kansas, and I appreciate the opportunity to be on the Senate floor today to describe the value of crop insurance and particularly to highlight the amendment we will vote on later today.

 

Sen. Moran's Alfalfa Crop Insurance Amendment Passes Senate

"I am pleased my colleagues joined me in supporting the development of a risk management tool for alfalfa production so producers can enjoy lower input costs and consumers can enjoy less expensive products on the grocery store shelves."

Jun 03 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke on the Senate floor about his amendment to the Farm Bill, amendment #987, which directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to conduct research and development regarding a policy to insure alfalfa, and issue a report describing the results of the study. Sen. Moran’s amendment, which is budget neutral, passed the Senate by a vote of 72 to 18.

"Alfalfa is the nation’s fourth most valuable crop and it plays a significant role in our daily lives as a building blocks for milk and meat," Sen. Moran said. "We need to take a good hard look at alfalfa and recognize its value to our country. We must study and develop something that works, saves the taxpayer money, and makes certain the land of plenty remains. I am pleased my colleagues joined me in supporting the development of a risk management tool for alfalfa production so producers can enjoy lower input costs and consumers can enjoy less expensive products on the grocery store shelves."

Alfalfa is key to sustainable agricultural systems and its value for nitrogen fixation, soil conservation, crop rotation, and wildlife habitat is unsurpassed. Alfalfa is also a major driver in high feed prices for dairy and cattle operations and hits the consumer on the grocery store shelf.

Although alfalfa is one of Americas most valuable crops – behind only corn, soybean and wheat – the safety net for alfalfa pales in comparison. In fact, alfalfa has seen a decline in acres that can, in part, be attributed to bankers telling producers to plant program crops rather than alfalfa due to no safety net for the crop. From 2002-2011, alfalfa acreage declined 15.7 percent and in 2012 alone, there was an additional decline of 10 percent.

The current crop insurance program, Forage Production APH, is severely inadequate; less than 10 percent of the acreage is enrolled in the program while enrollment for corn, soybean and wheat are all more than 80 percent. In addition, the program is only available in 23 states and limited counties in some of those states. Sen. Moran believes it is essential that alfalfa has good crop insurance options available similar to the other major crops.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is supportive of alfalfa insurance but is currently prohibited from working on research and development without this amendment. Sen. Moran’s amendment directing RMA to research and develop a crop insurance product that works for alfalfa will eventually allow producers to plant alfalfa and manage their risk. This will give animal agriculture less expensive inputs and allow farms to diversify their production. Additionally, consumer will be provided with a less expensive and more abundant food supply. 

See below for audio and video links to Sen. Moran’s remarks on the floor

FTP LINK:  Click here to download his floor speech. (Save to your desktop.)

YOUTUBE:  Click here to watch his remarks on YouTube.

 

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) recently appointed a new state director, Brennen Britton, to oversee state office operations and represent him in the state when he’s working on behalf of Kansans in Washington, D.C.

“I’m delighted to have Brennen leading efforts in Kansas as my state director,” Sen. Moran said. “In his new role, he will act as a liaison with our state’s community leaders, local government officials and businesses. Brennen is altruistic, personable and will fit in well with Kansans.”

“I look forward to serving Sen. Moran’s constituents in this new capacity,” Britton said. “Living in and traveling across the state will allow me to learn and experience first-hand issues of importance to Kansans.”

Britton previously served in Sen. Moran’s office as a legislative staff member and worked on a number of issues relating to the judiciary, economy and homeland security. Britton received a bachelor’s in political science and religion, as well as his Juris Doctor (JD) from Duke University. He will be residing in Manhattan, Kan.

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