Healthcare Reform Hits the U.S. Senate Floor

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid revealed an $848 billion plan for health care reform. As proposed, the package would extend health care coverage to 31 million people. The Congressional Budget Office determined that the Senate bill would cut federal deficits by $130 billion over the next decade. The plan is the most cost effective legislation presented by the House or Senate this year. Sixty Senators voted to bring a bill to the floor of the Senate for debate, and this debate is expected to occur between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The current proposed bill before the Senate promises to address key issues with health care in rural America.

• As individuals living all over rural America know all too well, access to health care benefits and treatment is a huge challenge.
• Individuals living in rural America are less likely to get preventive care, such as testing for cancer or routine reviews to reduce damage from diabetes.
• One in five farmers is in medical debt. Half of those living in rural America pay for their health insurance costs out of their own pockets without insurance back-up.
• Others who can buy insurance must do it directly from an insurance company because they cannot be a part of an employee group to keep insurance costs lower.
• If a rural American or a member of his family suffers from heart disease and or diabetes, they are likely to be denied coverage under the current system because they are considered to have a “pre-existing condition.”
• In small rural towns, where more than a third of rural Americans work, the small businesses struggle to cover employees in an under served environment or simply do not offer health benefits to employees.

The health care bill under consideration in the U.S. Senate moves to solve or improve many of these problems for rural Americans.

One of the most important issues in rural America is accessibility, which the proposal will improve. Approximately 65 million Americans lack access to a primary care provider because of shortages, and this is a particular challenge in rural America where people have to drive long distances to receive care. Health reform will invest in expanding the health care workforce to ensure that people in rural areas have access to doctors, nurses and high quality health care.

Health insurance reform legislation will expand tele-health services so rural Americans can access consultations for specialty care, as well as support ground and air ambulance services to quickly transport people to health care facilities during these critical times. Health insurance reform will also improve trauma care systems, which are essential in rural areas and across the nation.

Another important piece of the plan will give people the power to choose what is best for them and their families with the public option. In many rural states, one insurance company dominates more than 80 percent of the market. This means that there are often only one or two insurance companies offering health plans to families. With a competitive public option, Americans will have increased choices and increased competition that holds private insurers accountable. This public option is not intended for individuals already covered by employer health benefits, and can be particularly important to expand options for individuals not covered by such plans in rural America.

One-third of farmers can only purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company, more than three times the national average, which leads to higher costs and less security. The ability to choose will greatly reduce costs, increase security and ensure people are paying for what they need. Health reform will also prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing health conditions, which is currently a common practice of insurance companies.

As important as treatment of illness is, prevention may be even more critical. Identifying diseases early on is vital to treatment and recovery. Health reform will ensure coverage of preventative treatments to avoid disease, keeping Americans healthier and reducing the need for expensive treatments and medications.

There are clearly still issues that need to be worked out. The coming debate in the U.S. Senate is a step in the right direction; to ensure all Americans, especially those in rural America, receive the health care they need and deserve.