Vilsack Says Health Care Overhaul Benefits Rural Hospitals

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited Nashville Thursday to promote the health care proposal currently moving through Congress.

Secretary Vilsack, Metro General CEO Reginald Coopwood and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean listen to Tennessee Health Commissioner Susan Cooper

To a certain extent, rural health care does fall within the scope of the Agriculture Department. The USDA manages community development programs for rural areas, some of which involve hospitals and clinics.

Vilsack says those facilities stand to benefit if more of their patients are insured.

“When you do that you actually give these small, rural health centers a chance of surviving and a chance of being able to attract enough doctors to keep the place open.”

Blue Dog Democrats in the House of Representatives, including several from Tennessee, had criticized the plan as leaving rural health behind.

Wednesday, Murfreesboro Democrat Bart Gordon was one of handful who negotiated a compromise intended to benefit rural physicians and small businesses.