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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 23, 2022 01:46 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Frank Burns |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Improving Rural Health Care Access |
| Rural Pennsylvania has historically experienced a lack of access to health services when compared to urban areas of our state. This has led to an increased mortality rate from heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses as well as shorter life expectancies for rural residents. The disparity between the number of doctors practicing in rural versus urban areas has increased, leaving more and more residents to travel further distances for care and leading the Department of Health to label 62 counties in Pennsylvania as “health professional shortage areas.” Innovative measures have been taken to support rural health care access, as seen in home-based primary care, telehealth services and community health workers, but more must be done to understand how to improve the health of our residents. Therefore, I plan to introduce a resolution that directs the Center for Rural Pennsylvania to study the current level of health care access in rural counties, determine challenges faced by the health care industry, and include recommendations on how we can better support rural communities. I believe in decreasing health inequality and supporting our rural residents. This study will help us become more informed on the problems that affect our towns and help spread awareness of this troubling challenge. Please join me seeking solutions to Pennsylvania’s health professional shortage by co-sponsoring this resolution. |
Introduced as HR211