CMR: ‘You ensure no one is left behind’

Editor’s note: The following is a message that Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers gave to the attendees of the Virtual AAHomecare Washington Legislative Conference on Sept. 29. 

I’d like to start by saying thank you to everyone here for your tremendous work during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more than a year now, you’ve joined doctors and nurse across the country working around the clock to care for the sick and save lives. Many of you have been going to work each day putting your own health on the line for us to keep us healthy.  

As COVID cases continue to rise, many hospitals are overwhelmed. You are playing a critical role to ensure no one is left behind by bringing health care right into the home, caring for the sick where they need it most. To all of you continuing to battle COVID-19, please know we need you, we appreciate you and we could not do this without you.  

I also want to say thank you for your advocacy work and sharing your stories on Capitol Hill. I represent eastern Washington, most of which is incredibly rural. As a representative in Congress, I’ve been very vocal about the unique needs of communities in rural America. Unfortunately, one of the things that I hear the most is the lack of access to health care services and equipment. It’s part of the reason I’m such a big supporter of home health care. Home health care services have been especially vital during the COVID-19 pandemic. I know it hasn’t been easy, but nothing has stopped you from going the extra mile during an incredibly uncertain time.  

As co-chair of the Rural Health Coalition, we’ve had the opportunity to hear from experts like you to inform our policymaking and ensure no one gets left behind. For seniors, people with disabilities (and) people with chronic medical conditions, access to DME is fundamental, but this equipment cannot save lives if it isn’t available to those who need it most, especially in rural communities, where we know barriers to access already exist.  

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is a Republican representing Washington’s 5th District.