AHA is a founding member of the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Health Care: Protecting 24/7 Care, which recently rebranded to reflect its renewed focus on protecting and strengthening patients’ access to 24/7 care. On April 9 in Washington, D.C., health care leaders and officials gathered to discuss challenges to rural health care access and potential solutions.
The event was hosted by Punchbowl News and featured discussions on various topics including access to care, the importance of telehealth, health care innovations, and Medicare underpayment. Senator Tina Smith, D-Minn, highlighted the need to ensure that Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements keep up with the cost of care in order to address the funding crisis faced by rural hospitals.
Nancy Howell Agee, CEO of Carilion Clinic and chair of the coalition, expressed concerns about workforce recruitment and retention in hospitals nationwide, particularly in rural areas. She discussed potential solutions such as technological innovations like telehealth services and robots that can enhance medicine delivery in underserved areas. The event also featured a panel discussion with Carolyn Leja, chief nursing officer of Corewell Health, Dustin Lipson, president of Primary Children’s Hospital, and Mike Espy, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture who shared insights and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in rural health care delivery.
Overall, the event provided valuable insights into the pressing issues facing rural health care access
