Rural Health

The Legislature sent at least 27 healthcare bills to the governor.

The measure stems from a federal law that allowed the designation of rural emergency hospitals and made them eligible for Medicare payments.

These hospitals receive more than $3 million in federal money a year., but the catch is there are zero inpatient beds. .The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill that to create a category of “rural emergency hospitals" and help keep facilities open.

The measure stems from a federal law that allowed the designation of rural emergency hospitals and made them eligible for Medicare payments.

The Florida Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would create a new category of “rural emergency hospitals” in the state, with supporters saying it would help ensure access to health care in rural areas.

Many hospitals are shuttering their obstetrics units because insurance and Medicaid aren't reimbursing enough to cover the cost of births, the report notes.

The expansion of Catholic hospitals nationwide leaves patients at the mercy of the church’s religious directives, which are often at odds with accepted medical standards.

The bus is run by the Alzheimer’s Association and driven statewide by Rob Harris, who offers info to people seeking help. The focus is on getting the word out in under-resourced areas.

Under the measures, facilities designated as rural emergency hospitals could provide emergency services, observation care and outpatient services that do not exceed an average length of stay of 24 hours.

Experts say the lack of help available to rural Americans in navigating insurance options puts them at greater risk of losing health coverage than people in metropolitan areas.

Efforts to improve addiction care in jails and prisons are underway across the country. But a rural Alabama county with one of the nation’s highest overdose rates shows how change is slow.

Non-Hispanic Black women — regardless of income or education level — die at nearly three times the rate of non-Hispanic white women.