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New AHA-supported legislation was introduced today by Reps. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., and Terri Sewell, D-Ala., to extend the Medicare-dependent hospital program and low-volume hospital adjustment, which both serve as critical lifelines for rural hospitals. The Assistance for Rural Community Hospitals (ARCH) Act would extend each for five years. In its letter of support to the sponsors of the ARCH Act, AHA highlighted rural hospitals’ important roles in the communities they serve and the bill’s ability to support these efforts. “Your legislation will help keep the doors open at rural hospitals and allow them to continue serving their local communities during this time of sustained financial pressure and historic changes in care delivery,” AHA wrote.