RURAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
Every Hoosier deserves timely, high-quality healthcare, no matter whether they live in a city, a small town or on a farm. In our rural House District 38, the reality is that access is eroding, and federal changes are making matters worse.
As hospitals face decreasing Medicaid reimbursement rates and federal funding cuts, local facilities are being forced to reduce services or even close key departments such as labor and delivery. In Indiana more than a dozen obstetric units have shut down in recent years, creating so-called “maternity care deserts” and placing pregnant women at elevated risk. The Indiana Lawyer+2Indiana Capital Chronicle+2
Meanwhile, proposed federal legislation would reduce federal Medicaid spending in rural areas by tens of billions over the next decade, worsening the funding gap for the hospitals and clinics that serve our rural families. American Hospital Association+1
Here is our plan of action:
• Strengthen rural hospitals and clinics so they remain open and fully-staffed. When residents drive long distances for basic care it drains time, money and health outcomes.
• Expand maternal and neonatal care access in our rural counties. Indiana has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, and we must reverse that trend by keeping obstetric services local. The Indiana Lawyer+1
• Protect our Medicaid program and fight funding cuts that hurt rural health systems and families. Rural clinics cannot absorb large reimbursement cuts without cutting services, which leads to longer travel times and worse outcomes. WFYI Public Media+1
Strong rural healthcare means strong rural communities. It is time to ensure that our neighbors, our farmers, our children and our mothers receive care close to home, in counties like Carroll and Tipton, not just in the cities.
Further Reading:
• Rural hospitals issue warning in wake of federal cuts – WFYI
https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/rural-hospitals-issue-warning-in-wake-of-federal-cuts
They cared about us - More rural Indiana communities losing access to labor and delivery services – Indiana Capital Chronicle
https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/they-cared-about-us-more-rural-indiana-communities-losing-access-to-labor-and-delivery-services
Indiana’s nurse practitioner rules hurt rural health care” – IndyStar
https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/jacob-stewart/2025/08/06/rural-nurse-practitioner-healthcare-indiana-medicaid/85424368007