Dr. Mike Henderson has delivered babies, made house calls, and tended to patients for over 30 years at the hospital in the very rural town of Childress, Texas. The next nearest hospital is over 100 miles away. In emergencies, that distance could be the difference between life and death.

Like many rural doctors, Dr. Henderson is worried about the proposed cuts in Medicaid that Texas has put forward. Because people in rural areas have higher rates of poverty, many of his patients are on Medicaid. Dr. Henderson estimates the hospital loses $1,000 for every baby they deliver. Medicaid cuts could make that even worse for rural hospitals like the one in Childress, to the point where some may close their doors.

That doesn’t mean the Childress Hospital is going to stop delivering babies. The community needs this service, and the hospital is committed to the people it serves.

Doctor recruitment and retention is another difficulty for rural hospitals. Medical schools tend not to emphasize the skills needed to serve in rural communities, and most doctors don’t train in rural communities prior to leaving school. Through loan repayment and scholarship programs, the Affordable Care Act will provide resources to put more doctors and nurses in rural communities.

For more information, contact Steph Larsen, StephL@cfra.org.