Sebelius says there’s light at the end of the tunnel for rural Americans
[caption id="attachment_1506" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Sebelius addresses record NRHA Policy Institute crowd"][/caption] Geography shouldn’t be a determinant of health care quality, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said as she kicked off the National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Policy Institute this morning. She told a record crowd of rural health professionals from all 50 states that there’s hope in rural health. "When you’ve worked on rural health as long as all of us have, sometimes it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Sebelius said. “Today I can tell you there’s a light shining brightly. We have the power and momentum to bring fairness and equality to rural America." The former Kansas governor said she can relate to the more than 450 attendees of the 23rd annual event. “I come from a state where we have more cows than people, so I certainly understand rural,” she said. “In many communities the question is not which doctor or hospital you visit, but whether there’s a doctor or facility at all.” That’s why Sebelius said the administration is focused on health care workforce recruitment and retention. “I know all to well that when a critical access hospital closes its doors or a doctor leaves town, it may actually shut down the town,” she explained. “We have started with the premise that every American should have access to affordable health care,” she said. “The health care bill that was passed two years ago is all about that fundamental belief – whether you’re black or white… urban or rural, your geography shouldn’t determine whether you have access to health care.” She pointed to Affordable Care Act funding allowing the National Health Service Corps to triple in size, now supporting more than 10,000 providers working in underserved areas. “When those providers are assigned to an area, they end up staying and practicing in those areas,” Sebelius said. “Critical access hospitals will now have an easier time recruiting those providers to fill their staffs.” And she assured NRHA members that aiding rural America is a priority. “At every turn, we ask ‘what does this mean for rural America.? Are the rules being written in a way that works for rural communities?’” Sebelius said. Ten senators will speak throughout the NRHA event in D.C. this week.