| Despite decades of migration to cities and suburbs, | | | | Moreover, there will be much more support for the |
| millions of Americans still live in rural areas. Many of | | | | training of primary care physicians. Those are the |
| them are uninsured. In some rural areas, there are | | | | doctors that will be needed most after rural patients |
| relatively high levels of poverty. Most people rely on | | | | buy a new health insurance plan. Currently, many |
| community health centers for their health care, but | | | | doctors choose to go into specialties such as |
| they are often far away and underfunded. The | | | | orthopedics, because of the higher compensation |
| recently passed healthcare reform bill includes money | | | | levels and decreased stress. Many doctors have no |
| for the expansion or building of such centers. | | | | other choice, because they are so indebted to their |
| How does healthcare reform affect them? First, it will | | | | education. Otherwise, they would not finish paying off |
| provide subsidies and tax credits for low- and | | | | their loans until retirement. |
| middle-income individuals and families to buy a health | | | | Since training to become a primary care physician is |
| insurance plan. Access to health coverage has been | | | | equally costly as specialty training, student loan |
| shown to improve health outcomes. Patients take | | | | repayments for the former will be limited to 10% of a |
| more advantage of preventative care instead of | | | | doctor's annual income. Not to mention, they will be |
| waiting until their conditions get serious enough to visit | | | | forgiven after 20 years for those who stay current on |
| an emergency room, which is often less expensive in | | | | their payments. In addition, health insurance reform |
| the long run. It also expands the Medicaid insurance | | | | legislation aims to pay an extra 10% incentive to |
| program for those below, at, or near the poverty level. | | | | primary care doctors. |
| However, just being insured isn't enough. What good is | | | | Technology funded by the legislation may also help |
| a health insurance plan if the closest doctor is a full | | | | those living in rural areas. Telehealth services allow for |
| day's drive away? That is why the bill creates | | | | basic consultations with doctors and other |
| incentives for physicians to practice in rural areas. It | | | | professionals. The nation's best doctors will be able to |
| enacts more scholarships, as well as a federal loan | | | | see patients virtually through webcams, and determine |
| repayment program for medical school graduates who | | | | whether further specialized treatment is needed--at a |
| agree to work in under-served areas. Up to $35,000 | | | | lower expense than in-person visits. Medicare can also |
| of their student loans--a significant chunk of their | | | | use telehealth technologies to determine eligibility for |
| debt--will be forgiven. This program will encourage | | | | durable medical equipment and home health services, |
| more doctors to work in rural locations they may have | | | | far quicker than the process would otherwise take |
| considered less attractive. | | | | due to the need for travel. |