Rural Health Care in Texas

Fifteen percent of Texas' population resides in 196 rural counties. One of the most critical problems facing rural Texas today is access to health care. Not only does that affect health care delivery, but the general economic well being of rural communities as well. To address the health care needs of rural Texas, a Rural Health Summit was held recently on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. The day-long event, organized by the Center for Rural Health Initiatives, was co-sponsored by the Rural Caucus of the Texas Legislature, the Texas Rural Health Association, and was further supported by the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. Participants in the Summit included over 150 representatives from health care associations, staff members from state agencies and legislator offices, community activists, providers and members of the academic communities. All were encouraged to share their perspectives, insights and experiences into achieving better health care delivery. It was pointed out that Texas must quickly take steps to address these issues to ensure access to quality, affordable health for rural citizens. At the Summit, a small work group format was used where participants expressed their individual perspectives and identified 1) the key issues facing rural health care in Texas, 2) the barriers to those issues, 3) and possible solutions to address the barriers identified. Some of the issues addressed included the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers; uninsured patients, transportation, emergency services, access to mental health care, regulatory burdens and paperwork requirements, and access to health education. The participants were urged to work with their elected officials, including the State Legislators to share their best ideas and solutions for quality, affordable health care in rural Texas. Uninsured patients and regulatory paperwork have been mentioned as two of the main problems in our area of north Texas. What do you consider the main health care issue in your county? Please write my Capitol office at P. O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768. The next Legislature will be working toward solutions to the rural health care delivery system and your input is important. State Representative Ron Clark P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768-2910 (903) 893-9426 * (512) 463-0474 (512) 475-3767 (fax) ron.clark@house.state.tx.us http://www.grayson.edu/district62/RonClark.html