Grassley, Sweeney hold listening posts in Grundy Center and Dike

Talk of healthcare dominated the discussion during State Representative Pat Grassley and State Senator Annette Sweeney’s listening posts held in Grundy Center and Dike on Friday.
 
Local healthcare representatives showed out to both meetings to thank the legislators for their support of rural, critical access care hospitals like the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center.
 
In Grundy Center, Grundy County Memorial Hospital President Adam Scherling thanked the legislators for their support of rural hospitals, particularly through the Medicaid reimbursement program. In Dike, Helene Wertz - who is a member of the Grundy County Memorial Hospital Board of Commissioners - showed out to thank Grassley and Sweeney as well. 
 
“I want to thank you for the restoration of Medicare reimbursement for rural, critical access hospitals,” Bovy said. “We need these hospitals, and the hospitals need help.”
 
Across the state, a number of rural critical access hospitals (hospitals with 25 or fewer beds that receive reimbursement from CMS to compensate for lower patient volumes) are struggling to make ends meet due to increasing costs, declining patient volumes and insurance reimbursements that don’t always cover costs.
 
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