Rural Dispatch: March 2025
Many People With Disabilities Risk Losing Their Medicaid if They Work Too Much
Tony Leys
As politicians demand that more Medicaid recipients work, many people with disabilities say their state programs’ income and asset caps force them to limit their work hours or turn down promotions.
Millions in US Live in Places Where Doctors Don’t Practice and Telehealth Doesn’t Reach
Sarah Jane Tribble and Holly K. Hacker and Lydia Zuraw
Nearly 3 million Americans live sicker, shorter lives in the hundreds of rural counties where doctor shortages are the worst and poor internet connections mean little or no access to telehealth services.
‘Dead Zones’ Where Internet and Health Care Lag
Sarah Jane Tribble
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Indiana Lawmakers Seek To Forbid Hospital Monopolies, but One Merger Fight Remains
Samantha Liss
Union Health has made a new bid to buy its only rival hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana. The system passed one hurdle after lawmakers watered down a bill that threatened the proposed deal. That means the merger will now face a likely showdown with Indiana’s new governor.
Tribal Health Leaders Say Medicaid Cuts Would Decimate Health Programs
Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez
As Congress mulls significant cuts to Medicaid, Native American tribes are bracing for potentially devastating financial fallout. That’s because Medicaid is the largest third-party payer for Native American health programs, funding that has helped address chronic underfunding of the Indian Health Service.
Sent Home To Heal, Patients Avoid Wait for Rehab Home Beds
Felice J. Freyer
Many patients ready to leave the hospital end up lingering for days or weeks — occupying beds that others need and driving up costs — because of a lack of open spots at nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities. A few health systems are addressing this problem by moving post-acute rehab into the home.
Your Neighbor Has Backyard Chickens. Should You Be Worried?
Amy Maxmen
The latest outbreak of bird flu has upended egg, poultry, and dairy operations, sickened dozens of farmworkers, and killed at least one person in the U.S. KFF Health News national public health correspondent Amy Maxmen explains why scientists are worried.
States Facing Doctor Shortages Ease Licensing Rules for Foreign-Trained Physicians
Arielle Zionts
Amid doctor shortages, several states have stopped requiring foreign-trained providers to repeat residencies before they’re fully licensed. Critics say patients could be harmed because of the loosened training requirements.
Future of Cancer Coverage for Women Federal Firefighters Uncertain Under Trump
Kylie Mohr
In the waning days of the Biden administration, the Labor Department added ovarian, uterine, cervical, and breast cancer coverage for wildland firefighters. It’s unclear whether the new protections will stick under Trump.