With more than 7 million people signing up for coverage under federal healthcare reform and millions more gaining coverage under Medicaid Expansion, providers now need to reach more rural patients than ever before. But providers and payers in many states are still struggling with outdated laws and other obstacles in their effort to reach patients in remote areas.
But experts say those barriers to care are slowly disappearing as more states pass laws to allow Medicaid to reimburse providers. That effort is also being helped by pilot programs launched by providers and insurers in an effort to improve care and generate savings by allowing rural residents to address health problems before they get worse. Read the article in Health Leaders Media.