This Thursday, November 18, 2021, Rural Maryland Council will celebrate National Rural Health Day in Maryland. This day of awareness has been proclaimed by the National Organizations of State Office of Rural Health (NOSORH) to showcase the good work of America’s 62 million rural health care providers and to promote the efforts of our State Offices of Rural Health and other partners in addressing rural health concerns.
Rural Maryland remained resilient during the pandemic; however, fundamental challenges remain. Many rural Marylanders lack access to services and health care facilities. Many communities experience significant shortages of workers. These challenges are particularly acute in mental, dental, and specialty care. Transportation, including non-emergency medical care, also presents a challenge to rural Marylanders who find it difficult to reach medical services. There is very little public transportation available in rural areas.
Ironically, due to the pandemic, we have made progress on the solutions to these challenges. The pandemic showcased the delivery of services electronically through telemedicine. Programs were expanded to include telehealth services, and residents became more comfortable with this alternative delivery method. During this year’s recent Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session, access to telehealth and audio-only medical services was expanded through the Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2021 sponsored by Senator Melony Griffin and Delegate Josaline A. Pena-Melnyk (SB3/HB123). Another bill adopted included SB102/HB1252, sponsored by Senator Addie Eckardt and Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes, which expanded tax credits for preceptors in areas with health care workforce shortages.
Regarding transportation, the rural communities are innovators. Thanks to funds made available by Governor Hogan and the Maryland Legislature through the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund, this issue is being addressed by the Wheels to Wellness (W2W), in Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, with plans to expand to Charles County soon. So far, the program has traveled up to 15,000 miles each year in Calvert and St Mary’s counties, assisting those in mostly rural areas who cannot provide their own transportation to medical appointments.
The council would like to thank the rural health care workers who are so vital to the rural workforce, the rural economic development, and the communities. The council would also like to thank Governor Larry Hogan for his support and proclamation in recognition of National Rural Health Day.
Visit https://www.powerofrural.org/ or https://health.maryland.gov/pophealth/Pages/National-.aspx to support National Rural Health Day and the Maryland State Office of Rural Health.
