Posted on: Wednesday, December 31, 2003

EDITORIAL
Medicare bill brings benefits to rural poor

That big rewrite of the Medicare law pushed through Congress earlier this month was more about politics than it was about healthcare.

With both Democrats and Republicans scrambling for the votes of seniors, it was inevitable that a hugely expensive drug program and other benefits would be included.

And one of the simplest fixes for high drug costs — bulk buying by the government — was rejected.

But there is at least one aspect of the new law that could bring real benefits to a long-neglected (and non-voting) group: poor people — particularly poor children — living in rural areas.

Rural areas have fewer medical facilities, fewer doctors and far fewer medical specialists. The result is a lower quality of healthcare that takes a serious human toll.

In part to win the votes of lawmakers who represent rural areas, Congress put $25 billion into the Medicare bill for a 10-year program designed to improve rural health services.

It increases reimbursements for rural doctors and hospitals whose costs are often higher, not lower, than in urban areas. It subsidizes laboratory tests and even emergency ambulance and air service.

In short, it seeks to bring equity in medical care to out-of-the-way places.

That's an accomplishment worth applauding.