State Health Leaders Travel To Washington D.C. To Lobby For Medicare Provision

Wyoming Health leaders as well as leaders from Montana and South Dakota will be traveling to Washington D.C. in an attempt to lobby for a Medicare provision. The provision, beginning in 2013, would correct inequities in future Medicare payments to some rural states.

The 15 member tri-state group of health leaders wants Congress to protect the new rules, or the "frontier" provision of health care reform. It would promise higher payments to hospitals and doctors who treat Medicare patients in rural states.

When it comes to federal budget cuts President Obama has recommended eliminating the provision. According to the Argus Leader, Sanford Health Vice President Cindy Morrison said "the provision means tens of millions of dollars for states like South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Utah. The 15 executives from Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas will make their case on Wednesday at the National Capitol in Washington D.C.