U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem. R-South Dakota, recently was presented with a $2,500 AHAPAC check from SDAHO board member Paul Hanson, CEO of Sanford USD Medical Center, SDAHO President/CEO Scott A. Duke and and Debra A. Owen, SDAHO’s vice president of state and federal relations.
Rep. Noem has been a strong supporter of our community hospitals, including her recent advocacy urging CMS to provide flexibility in carrying out the Medicare payment reductions for new off-campus hospital outpatient departments (HOPD) under the Bipartisan Budget Act to protect patients’ access to care.
In addition, Rep. Noem has sponsored the Helping Ensure Accountability, Leadership, and Transparency in Tribal Healthcare (HEALTTH) Act, which offers comprehensive reforms to the crisis-stricken Indian Health Service (IHS). The solutions Rep. Noem has proposed in the HEALTTH Act will help address the fundamental, systemic failures in the Great Plains Area Service Area.