Rural Coloradans Have Trouble Getting Health Care, Attracting Physicians

Rural Coloradans often have to travel dozens - if not hundreds - of miles to see a doctor when they're ill. The Denver Post reports that "(i)t's a problem that worsens every year - and something rural health advocates are hoping national reform will fix. The major goal of reform is to add some 47 million uninsured Americans, including about 800,000 Coloradans, to the ranks of the insured."

"There are now 75 openings for physicians or physicians' assistants in rural Colorado. Two years ago, there were 62 openings. "

To combat the problem, the University of Colorado at Denver runs a "rural track" for doctors to serve in rural parts of the state (Brown, 9/18).