PILOT KNOB, MO – Congressman Jason Smith stopped in Iron County on Tuesday, October 17, to meet with the Iron County Medical Center. Smith saw updates to the 15-bed facility and met with hospital leadership.
After hearing details of the hospitals financial needs, Smith recently met with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to evaluate and discuss what steps could be taken to help the hospital remain open.
“Critical access hospitals like the one we have in Iron County provide medical care to people who would otherwise be forced to travel long distances to find the immediate help they need,” said Congressman Smith. “Through our work with CMS and USDA, we were able to help the hospital revise their agreements with both agencies and provide the necessary relief to help the hospital get on a path to long term financial viability,” continued Smith. “I am glad I was able to help them get their costs down and keep their doors open to the folks in southeast and south central Missouri who rely on Iron County Medical Center for care.”
Smith opposes additional federal regulations of critical access hospitals that require physicians to oversee everything from bandaging to prescription administration, care that other qualified medical professionals are more than capable of providing.
“Whether it’s putting on a Band-Aid or giving a shot, the federal government wants doctors to directly supervise and document every move their team of healthcare providers make,” said Congressman Smith. “The bottom line is these doctors should be free to care for their patients, not spend all of their time and resources complying with government mandates.”
The stop in Iron County was one of many the Congressman planned for his week at home in Missouri. Smith visited a total of 15 counties before returning to Washington to continue fighting for a full repeal of Obamacare, creating a fairer, flatter tax code for Missourians, and reducing the overall size and scope of the federal government.
“It’s always great to be back home and spend time with folks in our area,” said Congressman Smith. “Sleeping on the floor of my office in D.C. can get old, but I’m ready to get back and keep fighting for the folks of southeast and south central Missouri as Congress works to deliver on President Trump’s legislative agenda.”
