Access to healthcare in rural New York is becoming harder to obtain as provider shortages grow and wait times increase, according to State Sen. Pam Helming.
Helming said the issue should be a priority as lawmakers debate the state budget, arguing that rural communities rely heavily on local hospitals and community health centers for basic and specialized care.
Data from the New York State Comptroller shows rural counties have significantly fewer healthcare providers per capita than other parts of the state. The shortages include primary care physicians, pediatricians, OB-GYNs and mental health professionals.
In some rural areas, access to primary care is less than half the statewide average, Helming said.
She said the shortages lead to long delays for patients seeking care. Helming cited one case involving a mother whose immune-compromised son faced a four-month wait to see a specialist. Seniors with chronic conditions can also wait months for cardiology, neurology and other follow-up appointments, she said.
Dental care is also limited in many rural communities, particularly for people with developmental disabilities. Rural areas have fewer dentists per capita and fewer providers trained to treat patients who require specialized care or sedation, according to the Comptroller’s analysis.
Helming argued the state budget does not adequately address these challenges. She pointed to a report from the Comptroller that identified more than $1 billion in Medicaid spending that went to individuals living in other states.
Helming said those findings show the state could recover funds and reinvest them to improve healthcare access in rural communities.
She said she plans to push for budget policies that increase reimbursement rates and help community health centers and hospitals expand care for families, seniors and other vulnerable residents.
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