Rural Dispatch: Oct. 25, 2022
Drivers in Decline: A Shortage of Volunteers Complicates Access to Care in Rural America
Christina Saint Louis
Public transit is already insufficient in rural areas, leaving residents with few options as they travel greater distances to access health care. But older residents who depend on volunteer drivers to get them to appointments face another challenge: The number of those volunteers is declining.
For the Houma People, Displacement Looms With Every Storm
Emmarie Huetteman
The Houma, an Indigenous tribe, has seen much of its Gulf Coast community washed away by rising sea levels and dangerous storms. Its leaders say the tribe’s lack of federal recognition makes it harder to keep rebuilding.
Campaigning Ramps Up as South Dakota Voters Decide on Medicaid Expansion
Arielle Zionts
A broad coalition of Medicaid expansion supporters faces off against a smaller group of opponents as early voting begins on a constitutional amendment that would increase coverage under South Dakota’s program.
As Giant Hospitals Get Bigger, an Independent Doctor Feels the Pinch
Fred Clasen-Kelly
Independent medical practices keep closing as doctors join behemoth hospital groups or leave the field. Research suggests that’s bad news for patients. Studies repeatedly conclude that consolidation in the health care industry is driving up costs while showing no clear evidence of improved care.
Climate Change Magnifies Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke in Care Deserts
Julie Appleby and Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez
Smoke- and ash-filled air can trigger or exacerbate severe respiratory conditions. But the medical specialists who treat these illnesses are often scarce where they are most in need.
Mental Health Crisis Teams Aren’t Just for Cities Anymore
Tony Leys and Arielle Zionts
In many cities, social workers and counselors are responding to mental health emergencies that used to be solely handled by police. That approach is spreading to rural areas even though mental health professionals are scarcer and travel distances are longer.
Buy and Bust: After Platinum Health Took Control of Noble Sites, All Hospital Workers Were Fired
Sarah Jane Tribble
Two Missouri towns are without operating hospitals after private equity-backed Noble Health left both facilities mired in debt, lawsuits, and federal investigations. The hospitals’ new operator, Platinum Health, agreed to buy them in April for $2 and laid off the last employees in early September.
Many Refugees Dealing With Trauma Face Obstacles to Mental Health Care
Erica Zurek and Alander Rocha
Refugees are arriving in the U.S. in greater numbers after a 40-year low, prompting some health professionals to rethink ways to provide culturally competent care amid a shortage of mental health services.
As State Institutions Close, Families of Longtime Residents Face Agonizing Choices
Tony Leys
Iowa, under federal pressure to improve care for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, is set to join 45 other states that have closed most or all of their state institutions for such residents.
Journalists Delve Into Inflation Policy, Hospital Closures, and Needle Exchanges
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.