Long: Delay OCH agreement termination until appeal decided

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congressman Billy Long (MO-07) and Senator Roy Blunt (MO) today penned a bicameral letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Andrew Slavitt requesting that the agency delay the termination of their Medicare provider agreement with Ozarks Community Hospital (OCH) until the final result of the hospital’s appeal.

“Hundreds of Southwest Missouri medical professionals will have lost their jobs and reliable patient treatment systems will have ceased prematurely if this CMS decision isn’t halted,” said Rep. Long.“With such short notice, quality health care in the Ozarks and these employees’ livelihoods could take a major blow. On behalf of these providers and patients, we have called for this termination to be delayed until a final ruling is made on the hospital’s agreement.”

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