1. Rural healthcare on the mend

By Ashley Gold

 

Rural healthcare is more stable than ever before, thanks to technology and initiatives introduced by the Affordable Care Act. But the challenge now is to maintain and grow those success stories, according to a panel of experts speaking at an Alliance for Health Reform event on July 26 in Washington, D.C.   Keith Mueller (pictured right) of the Rural Policy Research Institute explained that before the ACA, the level of health insurance ineligibility for rural areas was higher. Now, more people can get coverage, but recruiting and retaining professionals for rural practice is a burgeoning challenge--community healthcare centers are affecting workforce expansion. "The questions we need to be asking [are] what do rural residents really need to gain access; what is different about the challenges they confront; how do policy changes affect them?" Mueller said. Regarding accountable care organizations (ACOs), Mueller said, the numbers of enrollment are already "higher than anyone expected." Tom Morris (pictured left) of the Office of Rural Health Policy (HRSA), said his office wants to know how federally-funded programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and ACA initiatives affect access in rural communities. Rural hospitals are unique, and must be treated as such. "Anytime we talk about rural communities, you have to realize it's not a smaller version of urban or suburban--it has its own characteristics," Morris said. The focus is more on primary care and chronic disease management. Any changes made in policy have had a disproportionate impact in rural communities, he said. The HRSA is focused on getting the word out in the coming months. Reaching out to rural communities is different--patients must be able to sign up for health information exchanges by paper. The word must get out about Healthcare.gov, but not necessarily via the Internet. --> READ THE FULL ARTICLE Read more about: alliance for health reform, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) back to top