Contents tagged with rural health care

  • We must heal our rural health care system

    Tags: emily briggs, rural, rural health care, rural medicine, rural family physician

    By Emily Briggs, MD, MPH, TAFP President, and Christy Francis, TORCH Board Chair

    Texas’ rural health care system is in serious trouble. The numerous problems plaguing rural health are well-documented and have been described as a succession of bad situations that are getting worse. They demand the Legislature’s immediate attention.

    Rural Texans are older, sicker, poorer, and less likely to be insured than the average Texan. Rural hospitals, physician practices, and community clinics face significant financial distress and a constant risk of closure due to high uncompensated care costs and unsustainably low reimbursement rates.

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  • Alpine FP tells Public Health Committee to invest in rural health care

    Tags: Adrian Billings, public health committee, rural health care

    By Jonathan Nelson

    Last week, Adrian Billings, MD, PhD, traveled from his home in Alpine, Texas, to Austin to testify on behalf of TAFP and the Texas Medical Association at a hearing of the House of Representatives Public Health Committee. The hearing focused on assessing the challenges rural Texans face when trying to access health care.

    “I stand before you today privileged to advocate on behalf of rural patients and communities. I do not want to fail these incredibly resilient rural human beings,” Billings said.

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