Representatives from Bothwell Regional Health Center traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of the Missouri Hospital Association’s (MHA) federal rural advocacy trip, on September 21 and 22.

The team, which included Bothwell CEO Lori Wightman, Bothwell Cole Camp Clinic Physician Dr. Misty Todd and Bothwell Board of Trustees Vice Chair Deidre Esquivel was part of a group of 40 rural hospital representatives who heard from Todd Morris, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy associate administrator.

According to a news release, Morris provided insight on upcoming grants and additional provider relief funding opportunities.

The Bothwell group also met separately with its Congressional delegation, including Senator Josh Hawley, Senator Roy Blunt and Representative Vicky Hartzler, of the Fourth District, to discuss topics related to COVID-19 and the future of health and health care.

Wightman said that items on the trip’s agenda included challenges to the present and future health care workforce, federal payments for COVID-19 related expenses, prior authorization reform in Medicare Advantage and the importance of protecting access to the 340B Drug Discount Program for community providers.

Wightman says, “This trip is just one component of our legislative efforts to ensure that the people who are creating public policy for health care really understand the issues that are impacting us at the hospital level. It is vitally important to know and communicate with our elected officials so we may continue having conversations about the important role rural hospitals play in providing access to health care in our communities.”

Photo: From left, Dr. Misty Todd, Bothwell Cole Camp Clinic; Lori Wightman, Bothwell CEO; Herb Kuhn, Missouri Hospital Association president and CEO; and Deidre Esquivel, Bothwell Board of Trustees vice chair.