Ensuring access to quality health care for rural Idahoans
Mike Crapo
More than a quarter of Idahoans and over 46 million Americans nationwide live in our vibrant rural communities. However, living in such remote areas has made it far too difficult for far too many Americans to access reliable, high-quality health care.
In May of this year, the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal health programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, held a hearing to identify the hurdles and barriers facing rural providers. The panel of expert witnesses shared invaluable insight into what challenges our communities face daily, from staffing shortages to expanding financing options for regional hospitals. As the Committee’s lead Republican, I value the opportunity to hear insights from those in the field to help guide how we as legislators can address these challenges.
With provisions such as telehealth flexibilities and financial support for hospitals and ambulance providers set to expire, the hearing came at a critical time for the survival of these programs that so many Idahoans rely upon. For instance, in 2022, nearly one-third of all Medicare beneficiaries relied on telehealth services. For rural areas, where clinician shortages persist, cutting off this lifeline is not an option. And while telehealth can bridge access gaps, particularly for specialty and mental health services, we must also maintain and expand in-person options in rural communities.
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