The U.S. House of Representatives voted to “disagree” with Senate-passed legislation that called for a two month extension of the payroll tax holiday as well as many other provisions including Medicare extenders for several rural programs and delay of the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate that will reduce physician fee...

This weekend the U.S. Senate passed legislation that, for a two-month period, would extend the payroll tax holiday along with several Medicare provisions, including an update for the sustainable growth rate within the physician fee schedule as well as rural specific provisions such as the outpatient hold harmless provision,...

Congress has reached a tentative agreement on Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations, with final votes expected in the coming days.  The large omnibus package includes funding for rural health programs such as the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program and Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program. Details on the final numbers are...