Center for Rural Affairs analyzes benefits of Medicaid in rural areas
Rural children increasingly reliant on public health insurance

 

LYONS, NE - Medicaid protects long-term care for millions of seniors, helps people with disabilities live independently and provides health coverage that ensures children can see a doctor when they get sick. The Center for Rural Affairs released a new health care report today, entitled - Medicaid and Rural America - that examines these and other vital roles Medicaid plays in rural areas.

"A variety of unique characteristics of rural communities make Medicaid crucial for rural people and rural places," said Jon Bailey, Rural Research Director at the Center for Rural Affairs and author of the report.

"The demographics and health care infrastructure of rural America make Medicaid a vital source of insurance coverage, filling gaps in Medicare coverage and the availability of private insurance," Bailey continued.

According to Bailey, rural poverty rates are generally higher. Rural residents have lower rates of employer-sponsored health insurance. And rural areas have a higher proportion of older persons in their total population.

Bailey's report goes on to explain that about 65 percent of families with non-elderly Medicaid enrollees have at least one worker in the family, with nearly half having at least one full-time worker.

"Many perceive Medicaid as the classic 'welfare' program," said Bailey. "That perception is simply not true."

A full copy of the report can be viewed and downloaded at: http://files.cfra.org/pdf/Medicaid.pdf.

The Center for Rural Affairs report makes a detailed case that Medicaid is a critical piece of the rural health care system. The connections between rural areas and Medicaid include :

• The unique rural demographics of an older, lower income, more disabled and less healthy population with lower rates of private health insurance require a well-functioning Medicaid program.
• Medicaid provides health insurance coverage and health care access for rural children and the disabled, both with limited health insurance options.
• Significantly more people in rural areas would be without health insurance without Medicaid coverage.
• Medicaid is a primary financer of long-term care, vital in rural areas with higher rates of elderly population and greater reliance on nursing facilities.
• Medicaid helps expand health services?particularly mental health services?that would otherwise be limited or nonexistent in rural areas.
• Medicaid keeps health care facilities and health care providers in rural areas by providing a significant portion of patient revenue.
• Medicaid enhances the quality of life in rural areas by providing greater access to rural health care services.
• Medicaid helps the rural economy by providing jobs and local revenue.

In the report, Bailey also provides evidence that Medicaid is also vital to the rural health care infrastructure and to rural communities. Health care providers, especially those who serve large percentages of Medicaid patients, rely on Medicaid payments to cover the costs of treating those patients. Federal and state Medicaid dollars contribute to rural economic development by generating health care jobs and other related businesses and services.

"In many respects, Medicaid has become a rural program," explained Bailey.

The most recent data on Medicaid coverage show that 16 percent of rural residents had Medicaid coverage in the past year, compared to 13 percent of urban residents. And a recent analysis of those eligible for Medicaid from state data affirms the importance of Medicaid to rural people.

The data from 35 states and the District of Columbia shows that more rural than urban residents are eligible for Medicaid in 31 states. (New Jersey and the District of Columbia, have no rural counties). In 13 states the rural-urban variation was five percentage points higher for the rural population.

"The importance of Medicaid to certain populations - children, low-income disabled, low-income elderly and pregnant women - in rural America is especially striking," Bailey concluded.

###

Amana - The family and friends of Jim Lentz will be hosting a silent auction and dinner on Saturday, April 28th from 6 to 8 pm. The event will be held in the RV Park in Amana in the Morton building next to the RV Park offices. Doors will open and bidding will begin at 5 p.m.

Cost for the dinner will be a free will donation.

Jim, who owns Lentz Construction, was at work on Nov. 29 when the ladder he was on was knocked out from under him. He was airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. His fall resulted in a broken right wrist, broken left arm, shattered left wrist and  an incomplete spinal cord injury. Initially Jim was unable to walk or move his hands and fingers. He spent nine days at the UI Hospitals before being transferred to St.Luke's Rehab where he regained his ability to walk and partial use of his hands.

Now home, Jim continues to recover with daily therapy. He has the goal of returning to work full time at some point. While his spinal cord and wrists continue to heal, doctors are uncertain if and when he will be able to return to work. Jim has no disability insurance; so all proceeds will go directly to Jim and his family.

Please plan to attend. Many nice items and package will be up for bidding. Professional photographer Dawn Ball will be taking family photos for donations at the event as well.

For more information, e-mail pinkpirate23@gmail.com or call 319-310-7526.

Donations are also being accepted to the Jim Lentz Fund at Fairfax State Bank, 409 Vanderbilt Street, Fairfax IA 52228.

Iowa's John Linquist selected to introduce new generation of youth to shooting sports

Sibley, Iowa - March 1, 2012 - Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever announce John Linquist, formerly Pheasants Forever's Regional Representative in western Iowa, as the organization's new FOREVER Shooting Sports National Coordinator. This position, made possible by a generous donation from Larry and Brenda Potterfield, founders of MidwayUSA, is aimed at introducing young people to shooting sports and increasing youth outdoor participation.

In 2011, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever launched its FOREVER Shooting Sports Program, which was made possible by a five-year pledge from the Potterfields. The program's intention is to develop a sustainable comprehensive shooting sports program that works closely with chapters and partners. In year one, the program doubled its initial goal and provided 17,000 youth participants the opportunity to experience the thrill of shooting sports.

Born and raised in Cherokee, Iowa, Linquist has served as Pheasants Forever's Regional Representative in western Iowa since 2006. He's been a shooting instructor for more than 30 years and began teaching hunter education when he was just 16 years old. "Pheasants Forever has always been a strong advocate for youth education, shooting sports and hunter retention," said Linquist, "I am confident we can dramatically increase the number of youth who are currently involved with shooting sports and continue the outdoor heritage that makes this country unique. Forever Shooting Sports programs are designed to instill an affinity with the outdoors and keep our youth excited about conservation well into the future."

"John's experience with the shooting sports and his passion to get kids outdoors makes him the perfect fit for this position," said Cheryl Riley, Pheasants Forever Vice President of Education & Outreach, "John knows our volunteers, and he will build a national network of community shooting programs supported by our chapters. We are so excited to have this opportunity to promote shooting sports as part of our No Child Left Indoors® initiative."

Besides the shooting sports, Linquist enjoys hunting upland and big game, fishing and archery. He lives in Sibley, Iowa, with his wife of 25 years, Darla, their two children Matthew and Suzanne, and Jake the Wonder Dog (his Gordon Setter). "I'm blessed to have my family's support in my career at Pheasants Forever," said Linquist, "Success is so much more obtainable when your family and friends are helping you reach your goals."

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have spent more than $10 million on youth conservation education since 1982. This has allowed the organization to host 45,530 youngsters in its youth mentor hunts, 58,575 in outdoor skills events and another 10,000 in youth conservation camps across the country.

For more information regarding Pheasants Forever's FOREVER Shooting Sports Program, please contact John Linquist, at (712) 754-3221 / Email John. For all other inquiries, please contact Rehan Nana, Pheasants Forever Public Relations Specialist at 651-209-4973 / Email Rehan.

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 130,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent, the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure.

-30-

St. James Lutheran Church, 3145 - 31st Ave, Rock Island, will be holding a Rummage & Bake Sale from 9am until 5pm on April 12th and 13th (Thursday and Friday) and from 9am until Noon on Saturday the 14th.

Clothing, household items, furniture, toys and games... something for everyone!  All are welcome.