Senator Grant Hauschild and Representative Roger Skraba Call on Federal Government to Designate Ely Hospital as a Critical Access Hospital

ST. PAUL, Minn. – In a letter sent to the Centers for Medi­care and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiq­uita Brooks-LaSure Tues­day, Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) and Representative Roger Skraba (R-Ely) urged immediate ac­tion to maintain the Critical Access Hospital designation for Ely-Bloomenson Commu­nity Hospital (EBCH). This designation, which provides additional federal funding and support to EBCH, are essential to the well-being of thousands of people in the Northland.

“Rural hospitals face an array of challenges that make federal support and funding essential. Without this designation, their ability to deliver high-quality care is jeopardized, threaten­ing the health of thousands of Minnesotans,” said Sen. Haus­child. “I am strongly urging the federal government to approve this request for reclassification to ensure they can continue to deliver the care residents of Northern Minnesota need.”

In Tuesday’s letter, Sen. Haus­child and Rep. Skraba laid out the case for EBCH maintain­ing this designation thanks to its meeting specific state and federal criteria. This includes its status as a hospital locat­ed outside the seven-county metropolitan area and within a community of fewer than 15,000 people.

“By any definition these hos­pitals are in rural communi­ties serving populations spread across the region,” said Rep. Skraba. “Their role as the only health care option for thou­sands of Minnesotans cannot be overstated – which is why their reclassification is neces­sary and urgently required.”