By Miryam Ehrlich Williamson

Here are the 10 points the Center for Rural Affairs considers  important in the current health care debate.  What do you think?  What would you add?

1. Universal, Continuous and Affordable: Because of the long-term consequences of being uninsured and underinsured, health care coverage must be available to everyone, without gaps in coverage. Healthcare must also be cost-effective for individuals, businesses and society.

2. Self Employment & Small Businesses: Owner-operated farms, ranches and small businesses dominate the rural economy. Reform must provide options – including a public option – for small businesses and the self-employed. This will bolster entrepreneurial rural development.

3. An Aging Population: Many rural areas are experiencing an aging population, and with it an increase in chronic diseases, disability, and pressure on an already burdened health care system. Reform must provide the services and facilities to enable aging rural people to stay in their homes and communities.

4. Dependence on Public Plans: With a population that is older, poorer and with less employer-based health insurance, more rural people are dependent on public health care programs such as state children’s health insurance programs, Medicare, and Medicaid. Reform must strengthen these public plans.

5. Health Infrastructure: Rural health infrastructure is a web of small hospitals and clinics often experiencing financial stress. Reform must provide these facilities with resources to update their technology, provide care to the unserved and underserved, and must address their current funding model.

6. Healthcare Providers: Over 80% of rural counties are medically underserved, over a third of rural Americans live with a shortage of health professionals, and only 3% of current medical students plan to practice in rural areas. Reform must offer new approaches and incentives for rural health professionals.

7. Health, Wellness & Prevention: Rather than treating just sickness, our health care system must focus on wellness and prevention as well. This is particularly true for rural areas that suffer higher rates of obesity and other preventable problems. Reform must do more to enhance and promote health and wellness.

8. Mental Health: Over half the counties in the United States have no mental health professionals. Reform must create incentives to provide resources for a specialty rural mental health marketplace similar to what exists for rural medical clinics.

9. Emergency Services: Emergency medical services (EMS) are fi rst-line health care providers in rural areas. Rural EMS providers are underfunded, face growing demand, and workforce and volunteer shortages.Reform legislation must provide resources to make these vital EMS services sustainable.

10. Health Technology: Technology is increasingly used to improve patient safety, quality of care, and efficiency. However, adoption of health information and telehealth technology remains low in rural areas.Reform must include resources for health technology, and efforts to close the rural broadband gap.

Posted on April 10th, 2009 by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson
Filed under: Health Care