In Washington, D.C., on April 9th, health care leaders and officials gathered to discuss the challenges facing rural health care access and potential solutions. The event, which was sponsored by the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Health Care: Protecting 24/7 Care, took place at Punchbowl News. The Coalition recently rebranded to emphasize its focus on protecting and strengthening patients’ access to around-the-clock care.
The discussions covered a variety of topics, including access to care, the importance of telehealth, health care innovations, and Medicare underpayment. Senator Tina Smith from Minnesota highlighted the funding crisis for rural hospitals and emphasized the need for Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements to keep up with rising costs.
Nancy Howell Agee, CEO of Carilion Clinic and chair of the coalition, discussed the challenges of workforce recruitment and retention in hospitals, especially in rural areas. She expressed concern for the fragility of rural hospitals that have closed in recent years. Agee also touched on technological innovations like telehealth and robots as potential solutions.
The event 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. Attendees were able to watch a video of the event afterward to learn more about the discussions and insights shared by the participants.