Rural Healthcare Initiative
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Access to Health Care in Rural Missouri
Missourians face unique healthcare challenges—we have older populations, lower incomes, and less access to healthcare services—and routinely travel more than an hour to reach doctors for routine care and emergency services. Additionally, rural and farm families have less access to employer-sponsored health insurance and often face higher insurance costs. When farm and rural families do have access to health insurance, they pay more.
Rural Healthcare Issues
Medicaid Expansion and Implementation
From the beginning, MRCC has been a grassroots leader in the fight to expand Medicaid in Missouri. After a decade of education and advocacy efforts, Missourians voted to expand Medicaid in the midst of a pandemic to provide access to health insurance to hundreds of thousands of our friends, families, and neighbors all across the state. It will also be a lifeline for the rural hospitals that have been struggling to stay open, serving un- and underinsured populations.
It was estimated prior to Covid-19 that over 230,000 additional rural Missourians would qualify for Medicaid when implementation goes into effect on July 1, 2021.
We worked hard for this win, and now our job is to help ensure that the needs of rural Missourians are met through implementation.
Corporate, Monopolistic Control of Our Healthcare
The same companies controlling the seeds in farm fields are finding their way into our medicine cabinets as corporate mergers combine corporations like Bayer and Monsanto. We know what happens when corporate agriculture’s profits are prioritized over family farms and rural Missourians, our communities, health, and environment, and we see similar results with corporate-controlled healthcare, where health insurance companies and Big Pharma have more influence over access to treatment than doctors or patients. We have to call out and stop the predatory practices that put so many families into medical debt.
MRCC members fight for democratic control of our food and healthcare systems and organize for policy changes that will improve access to care for all Missourians, both urban and rural.
We are committed to protecting the health and well-being of farm and rural families & rural economies. We know that local communities know best what their healthcare needs are—and we want to hear from YOU about what healthcare policies you support.
Please get in touch with Dina at dina@morural.org or (573) 449-1336 if you want to share your healthcare story, join any of our healthcare projects, or have an event in your community!
Ask Me Anything Medicaid Expansion
Missouri Rural Crisis Center’s Dina Van Der Zalm Asks the questions of professionals in many fields. While this program started to help inform people about Medicaid Expansion it has continued to grow helping Missourians get answers to tough questions. Catch up on the issues including Medicaid Expansion and Implementation, Rural Health Care Access, Voting Rights and much more. Find the videos on our YouTube Channel or on our Ask Anything Video Library Page.
Click here to go to MRCC’s YouTube Channel
Discover More About Rural Healthcare Articles
It’s Time for Annual Medicaid Renewal in Missouri. Here’s What You Need to Know
Starting in April of 2023, annual renewals started for Missouri Medicaid recipients for the first time since the start...
Medicaid Coverage Now Requires Renewal and Many Don’t Know It.
I’m not a Medicaid recipient but every day I come in contact with those who qualify. These are children, single moms,...
MRCC REACH update with Dr. Ed Weisbart
Dr. Ed Weisbart with PNHP joins our own Dina van der Zalm to share important updates about Medicare. Dr. Weisbart...
Medicaid Story Soapboxx
Halloween is spooky, but you know what is even spookier? Being uninsured and facing a major medical crisis. Luckily...
MRCC Mid-Year Activities Update Summer 2022
2022 Mid-Year UpdateBuilding Power to Win Support Missouri Farms, Food, Communities & Democracy In 2022, MRCC has...
Medicaid Minute with Iva Shepard
For this MRCC Medicaid Minute, we are joined by Iva Shepherd from Missouri Primary Care Center to talk about the...
Treat to Traditional Medicare with Dr. Ed Weisbart
Learn more about the current threat to Traditional Medicare from our expert guest Dr. Ed Weisbart with the recording...
Missouri Governor Parson Refuses to Fund Medicaid Expansion
Governor Parson ignores the State Constitution after a referendum of the people indicating that they wanted Medicaid ...
Missouri Rural Crisis Center Puts Pressure on Senators to Support Medicaid Expansion
As the Missouri Republican-held senate considered whether to finance the voter-approved expansion program MRCC did no...
As Missourian’s Lose their Jobs, They Also Lose Health Insurance
As the pandemic continues to impact families and communities across the state, continued unemployment means more indi...
Letter to the Editor Pleads for Heath Care Access
Health care and loving others As seen in The Southeast Missourian Thursday, July 23, 2020 I appeal to you as a member...
Can Medicaid Help Families Stay together?
This letter to the Editor of the Missourian shows how Medicaid services are helping to keep this family together. Whe...
Can Medicaid Help People Get Care & Help Care Centers Stay Open
Letters to the Editor as seen in the Springfield News-Leader June 27th, 2020 Medicaid ensures people get health ...
Advocates Cheer Missouri’s Medicaid Expansion – We Did it
US News and World Report covers the Missouri Medicaid Expansion Win August 5th, 2020 The people spoke and Medicaid Ex...
Missouri Divided over Medicaid Expansion
As resistance to Medicaid continues to crumble in red and blue states Missouri faces its decision. While many represe...
Mo HealthNet Provides Prenatal Care
Lack of prenatal care is the biggest contributor to low infant birth weight and it’s associated risks of health...
Can Medicaid Save Lives and Reduce Crime?
Medicaid will Save Lives and Reduce Crime Joe Poor of Columbia, Missouri writes a Letter to the Editor on July 17th 2...
Director of Missouri Rural Crisis Center Speaks Out
Rhonda Perry speaks out in this letter to the editor in Columbia Missourian. Medicaid Expansion Will Strengthen Healt...
Does your zip code determine how long you live? This Letter to the Editor Says So
Missourians need Medicaid expansion as seen in The Joplin Globe July 26th, 2020 Right now, where you live determines ...
Missouri Rural Health Care Senior – Ask Me Anything
Meet Janie Shelburn and Christi Lero, who are senior are managers. Ask anything and learn more about services, options...
Medicare Expansion is what Missouri Needs
“[Medicaid Expansion] is not only what our state needs; it’s what we deserve.” “If my parents had...
Rural Missouri Residents Need Medicaid Expansion Now
Covid-19 further proves that rural Missouri needs medicaid expansion now. The lack of services, lack of testing and l...
Rural Healthcare Initiative Volunteer Activities
Insert info on how people can get involved.
What can we do the support this issue?
- hold meetings with local communities to gather support and educate.
- Phone bank
- Supporting local candidates
- Educate
Currently we are looking for volunteers and support. If you are interested in helping out get involved with us.