Consumers in rural areas grapple with medical bills and health care affordability, while a comparison to other high-income countries offers insights into potential solutions.
08/17/2023 8:30 A.M.
2 minute read
Recent research from The Commonwealth Fund’s 2020 International Health Policy Survey reveals the stark disparities in health access and affordability across rural America. The survey, comparing the situation in the U.S. with 10 other high-income countries, paints a grim picture.
Approximately 15% of the U.S. population resides in rural areas, where higher rates of chronic diseases, limited access to care and elevated suicide rates are prevalent. Perhaps most concerning is the number of rural Americans struggling with medical bills and health care affordability. Compared to residents in the analyzed countries, rural Americans are more than twice as likely to skip necessary medical care due to financial concerns. In countries like the UK, Norway, and Sweden, this rate is significantly lower.
This is compounded by the lack of universal health care coverage in the U.S. Unlike its peers in the analysis, the U.S. lacks a comprehensive health care system, leaving a considerable portion of the rural population uninsured or underinsured. Access to health care is vital, but merely possessing insurance falls short if rural communities lack a well-established health care infrastructure.
What Can the U.S. Learn from Other Countries?
The shortage of primary care professionals in rural areas is a major factor, hindering access to necessary medical attention. Some countries, like the UK, have introduced innovative solutions, such as community pharmacies providing accessible care for minor illnesses.
Alternatively, Canada provides an example of how telehealth can bridge health care gaps in remote areas. Unlike the U.S., where reimbursement issues and technological barriers pose challenges, Canadian physicians have embraced virtual care with a greater sense of satisfaction. Their emphasis on training and payment models has fostered an environment conducive to telehealth adoption.
Australia’s approach to addressing rural health care disparities offers another avenue for the U.S. to explore. By creating clinical schools with rural student quotas and incentivizing foreign medical workers, Australia has bolstered its rural health care workforce.
To rectify these issues faced by rural Americans, Commonwealth Fund researchers recommend policymakers in the U.S. take inspiration from successful models in other countries to ensure rural populations receive essential health care services without financial strain, ultimately fostering healthier and more equitable communities.
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