Barrasso Questions Health Secretary About Future of Rural Hospitals

U.S. Senator John Barrasso on Tuesday (R-WY) questioned Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra about the department’s strategy to end the closure of rural hospitals around the country. Barrasso at the hearing, asked Secretary Becerra about the department’s plans on addressing emergency waivers for Medicare and Medicaid programs after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.

The following is a brief exchange between Senator Barrasso and Secretary Becerra

Barrasso also expressed his concern that the Health and Human Services budget does not contain a comprehensive strategy for halting rural hospital closures and building a sustainable rural health care delivery system.