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.
Rural communities struggle to recruit and retain doctors, nurses, dentists, mental health providers, and other important health care workers, forcing patients to travel long distances to receive care. This lack of access to care results in higher rates of preventable poor health conditions among our neighbors, leading to increased rates of heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke.
