Press Release: "Health Care Reform Provides Critical Care for Rural Families"

"Living in rural regions supports a lifestyle that many families, small businesses and retirees appreciate," says Margarita Mercure Hibbs, a rural advocacy specialist and former first lady of Estancia. "However, securing access to affordable, quality health care -- especially during a recession -- can be a challenge. With roughly one-third of its 2 million residents living in rural areas, New Mexico has an especially severe challenge."

According to studies by the Rural Health Research & Policy Center, the Flex Monitoring Team, and Kaiser, there are 42 hospitals in New Mexico, only 29 of which are located in rural areas, and six of which are critical access hospitals. "These numbers show that rural New Mexicans occupy the largest geographical territory in the state but get about half the medical resources," says Hibbs, in an article for the New Mexico Editorial Forum.

"Adding to the special challenges facing New Mexicans is the fact that our state has some of the highest unemployment and uninsured rates in the nation," Hibbs continues. "The rural-urban disparity in insurance coverage is exacerbated by the fact that incomes are generally lower and fewer rural companies offer private health insurance."

"These special challenges are why the changes brought about by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are so important to New Mexicans," she states. "The Act addresses many of the health care issues that so many rural Americans face and ensures that they will now have affordable access to necessary health care that was once unavailable to them."

"Historically, rural New Mexicans faced with catastrophic injuries or illnesses have had a greatly diminished chance of survival due to the lack of emergency, urgent care and first responder resources," Hibbs says.

"The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act creates a system that is fair for rural communities -- one that will grow rural health care workforces by making necessary investments in training, recruitment and facilities, so that rural populations have greater access to doctors, nurses, dentists and paramedics," she states.

"Many New Mexicans are already benefiting from reform," Hibbs concludes. "Health Action New Mexico provides information to folks in order to better explain what the health care plan does and doesn't do. Access to this information is an important piece of reform, so we strongly encourage you to contact them directly at www.healthactionnm.org."

SUBJECT: Health Care Reform

The Following Commentary Has Been Provided To This Station By The New Mexico Editorial Forum, A Nonpartisan, Nonprofit Educational Organization. They Are Solely Responsible For Its Content.

Rural New Mexicans occupy the largest geographical territory in the state but get about half the medical resources. Thats why the changes brought about by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are so important to New Mexicans. The Act addresses many of the health care issues that so many rural Americans face and ensures that they will now have affordable access to necessary health care that was once unavailable to them.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act creates a system that is fair for rural communities -- one that will grow rural health care workforces by making necessary investments in training, recruitment and facilities, so that rural populations have greater access to doctors, nurses, dentists and paramedics.

Many New Mexicans are already benefiting from reform. Health Action New Mexico provides information to folks in order to better explain what the health care plan does and doesnt do. Access to this information is an important piece of reform. For more information please visit www.healthactionnm.org.

The Preceding Has Been Provided To This Station By The New Mexico Editorial Forum. Letters Should Be Sent To The Forum, Care Of This Station.

About Margarita Hibbs