Font ResizeThe health-care crisis in this country is felt nowhere more than in rural America, where a lack of providers and affordable insurance coverage leaves many without needed treatment or in a financial bind.
For example, one in five farmers in the United States is in "medical debt," according to a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius unveiled the new report, "More Choices, Better Coverage: Health Insurance Reform and Rural America," in a conference call with journalists Tuesday, and said health-care reform legislation now making its way through Congress would provide more choices and affordable care to 50 million Americans who live in rural areas.
It also would provide incentives to attract doctors and nurses to the countryside locales.
Many rural residents are self-employed, work for small businesses, or are part-time or seasonal, according to the Obama administration report, and that leaves them far less likely to have employer-sponsored health care benefits. Beyond that, rural residents have higher rates of chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.
"All too often, the American health insurance system provides limited coverage and leaves rural Americans particularly vulnerable to falling through the cracks," the report says.
But Sebelius said reform legislation would alleviate that. "People without health care coverage will be able to get it,"
Among other things, Sebelius said the legislation would create a health insurance exchange to broaden competition for families to compare health plans and determine which one is most suitable and affordable. A public option could be part of that scenario.
In addition, reforms would limit what insurance companies could charge in co-pays and other out-of-pocket expenses, she said.
Also, the Health and Human Services secretary said proposed legislation would provide a sliding scale tax credit to help small businesses in rural areas to provide benefits for workers.
Among the health care challenges in rural areas is that there are only 36 primary-care physicians for every 10,000 people, according to the report. Urban areas have about twice that number.
But Sebelius said reform legislation would invest in the National Health Service Corps, which would fund grants, scholarships and loan repayments for doctors, nurses, dentists and mental health specialists who locate in rural areas.
"The biggest winners of health care reform will be rural Americans," Sebelius said.
