Fedorchak hosts health care roundtable to discuss rural health investments under Working Families Tax Cuts Act

Bismarck, ND - Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) brought together state and industry leaders for a roundtable discussion this week focused on rural health care investments and ongoing Republican-led efforts to address the affordability of health insurance premiums.

"The Working Families Tax Cut Act established the Rural Health Transformation Fund, a landmark $50B investment in rural health care for states like North Dakota. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched the application for states to apply for this new funding less than a month ago, and I'm proud our state's health leaders quickly developed a thoughtful application," Fedorchak said. "The forward-looking approach and collaboration among our hospitals, clinics, and state agencies should serve as a model for the entire country."

The roundtable focused on the state's innovative approach to the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fundpassed under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, the need for long-term health care reform, and addressing the COVID-era enhanced premium tax credits set to expire on January 1, 2026.

Fedorchak emphasized the difference between the long-standing Obamacare premium tax credits, which will continue to exist after January 1, 2026, and the temporary enhanced version created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The enhanced premium tax credits dramatically expanded eligibility and cost taxpayers billions each year.

"These tax credits were never meant to be permanent-that's why Congressional Democrats themselves set them to expire on January 1, 2026. Republicans are ready to find a responsible path forward as soon as Democrats vote to reopen the federal government. Tying government funding to these enhanced premium tax credits is a red herring, and the longer Democrats keep the government shut down, the longer it delays a solution," Fedorchak added.

She also expressed concern over the Democrat-supported Continuing Resolution, which would wipe out the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund and roll backkey health care reforms passed under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Specifically, to reopen the federal government, Democrats are demanding a $1.5T spending increase that would:

• Remove the modest 20-hour per week work requirements established in the Working Families Tax Cutsfor able-bodied, working-age adults on Medicaid

• Restore taxpayer-funded free healthcare for illegal aliens.

• Eliminate eligibility testing and safeguards to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicaid program.

• Restore the Biden administration's one-size-fits-all minimum staffing mandate for nursing homes that would have forced many rural North Dakota nursing homes to close

• Repeal the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, hurting hospitals and clinics in rural communities

Participants included:

• North Dakota Medicaid Director Sarah Aker

• House Majority Leader Mike Lefor

• State Representative Jon Nelson

• State Representative Robin Weisz

• State Senator Dick Dever

• Todd Schaffer, Sanford Health

• Reed Reyman, CHI St. Alexius Health

• Andrew Askew, Essentia Health

• Melissa Hauer, North Dakota Hospital Association

• Nikki Wegner, North Dakota Long Term Care Association

• Ben Bucher, North Dakota Center for Rural Health

• Megan Houn, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota

• Shannon Bacon, Senior Health Equity & Partnerships Manager at CHAD

• Matt Fischer, Chief Director of Insurance Regulation

• Courtney Koebele, Executive Director of the North Dakota Medical Association

• John Arnold, Deputy Insurance Commissioner