Sen. Pete Ricketts tours Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center Wednesday

BEATRICE, Neb. - Sen. Pete Ricketts is making an effort to learn more about Nebraska’s rural hospitals and healthcare facilities, as the Big Beautiful Bill includes a $50-million rural health fund.

That journey brought him to the Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center on Wednesday afternoon.

“We look the hospital tour to hear from folks on how we can improve rural health care… With the bill we just passed we have $50-million fund for rural health care transformation,” Ricketts said. “We want to make sure that money is going TO rural health care and used the best way to help.”

Ricketts says hospitals to the likes of BCH are crucial for not only towns like Beatrice, but those in the surrounding rural communities.

“If we want to get people to stay in our small towns and rural communities, we need great quality of life and healthcare is an essential part of that.”

While the technology of place like BCH impressed Ricketts, issues were discusses as well. Those included reimbursement for Telehealth, medicare advantage, and getting more people into the healthcare profession.

In addition, as health insurance rates rise, Ricketts says republicans are working to prevent that.

“We’re going to come back as republicans with a plan because clearly Obamacare has failed,” Ricketts said. “The questions we’re asking is why give $30-million to insurance companies when you can just give it to the people? That competition will help drive down cost, and we see the system currently int working so let’s try something new. With this vote, you’ll see republicans coming back with our plan.”