ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) will announce new federal legislation Monday designed to improve financial stability for rural emergency hospitals and support efforts to reopen Martin General Hospital in eastern North Carolina.
The Rural Emergency Hospital Financial Stability Act would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for rural emergency hospitals, bringing them in line with rates paid to other outpatient facilities. The proposed change aims to address financial challenges facing hospitals that serve communities with large populations of Medicaid patients.
National Healthcare Organizations Back Proposal
The legislation has garnered support from two major healthcare advocacy groups: the National Rural Health Association and America’s Essential Hospitals. Both organizations have endorsed the bill as a critical step toward ensuring rural communities maintain access to emergency medical services.
Rural emergency hospitals represent a relatively new category of healthcare facility created to help struggling rural hospitals remain operational by focusing on emergency and outpatient services rather than maintaining full inpatient capabilities.
Press Conference Scheduled at Martin General Hospital
Davis will formally introduce the legislation during a press conference scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Monday at Martin General Hospital, located at 310 S. McCaskey Road in Williamston. The choice of venue underscores the direct impact the proposed legislation could have on the facility’s potential reopening.
Martin General Hospital, which serves Martin County and surrounding rural areas in northeastern North Carolina, has faced financial difficulties in recent years. The hospital’s closure has left residents in the region with limited access to nearby emergency medical care.
Addressing Rural Healthcare Crisis
The announcement comes as rural hospitals across North Carolina and the nation continue to face mounting financial pressures. Many rural facilities have closed or reduced services in recent years, leaving gaps in healthcare coverage for communities that often have limited transportation options and higher rates of chronic health conditions.
The proposed legislation specifically targets the financial structure that has made it difficult for rural emergency hospitals to remain viable, particularly in areas where a significant portion of patients rely on Medicaid coverage, which traditionally reimburses at lower rates than private insurance.
