In many small rural American towns, when hospitals and clinics close and clinicians leave, the local pharmacy still stands, at least for awhile. It is where people pick up blood pressure medications, get flu shots, and ask quick questions. For many rural residents, it is the most reliable point of contact they have with the entire healthcare system. But, that too is disappearing. The Numbers The scale of pharmacy closures in recent years is staggering. According to data from

With the increasing trend of closure of rural hospitals and maternal units, many women are left without access to adequate prenatal care. The federal government has stepped in to address such gaps in care by introducing a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation (RHT) program that will bolster rural health systems. Interestingly, the same piece of legislation, HR 1, also included nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). This begs t

A recent opinion article by Frank Espinosa in USA Today argues for a billionaire tax to save rural hospitals. Mr. Espinosa, a contract specialist for a hospital in California, makes a compelling argument. He reveals that rural hospitals in California are disappearing. For instance, when Glenn Medical Center closed, Glenn County lost its only hospital, leaving the closest operating hospital 40 minutes away. With the anticipation of $100 billion looming Medicaid cuts to Calif

A recent article in AL.com reveals that 3 of Alabama’s rural hospitals are at risk of closing due to Medicaid cuts under Trump’s Big Beautiful bill, according to a national report by Public citizen . The report claims that the Medicaid cuts in the bill, which include $900 billion of cuts over the next decade, are responsible for putting these hospitals at risk. Per the report, a hospital is considered at risk when 20% or more of the patients are insured through Medicaid or t

The Problem of Chronic Disease Imagine having to drive over an hour to get a medication refilled or to have your blood pressure checked. This is a reality for many people in rural areas. Not surprisingly, death from chronic disease is higher among rural populations compared to urban ones. What exactly is chronic disease? Chronic disease includes long-term conditions that require ongoing care, like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obesity. It is a growing problem

In a small town, contraception can require in-depth discussions and evaluation of various options. For rural teens and young adults, every step, from asking questions to making appointments to filling prescriptions, is done in a community where everyone seems to know everyone else, and research shows that stigma and limited access are especially pronounced in rural adolescent reproductive health.​ The Consequences of Stigma In tight-knit communities, sex and contraception ca

Whether it’s school, work, health, or support, the internet is critical for rural communities to access. But getting online isn’t as simple as clicking a button. The following two barriers demonstrate just how wide the gap is and how it uniquely affects rural areas. 1. Cost Rural areas often lack the advanced infrastructure of cities, so providers use expensive satellite or fixed wireless for coverage. These methods inherently have limits like signal lags and weather disrupti

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Welcome to The Rise Blog. This is my first post, so I want to share the heart of my mission and what inspired me to create this platform....