Our View: Arizona’s rural health plan deserves full funding — not federal neglect

Arizona put together a smart, data-driven plan to help rural communities get better health care. But Washington only gave us two-thirds of what we asked for. That's not just disappointing — it's dangerous.

Arizona rural communities need to push back. State leaders should demand a fairer share of the federal dollars meant for rural health care. And Congress needs to fix a funding system that rewards population size instead of actual need.

The facts are clear. People in rural Arizona are more likely to die from cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. They're less likely to get prenatal care. Babies born in rural areas are more likely to die in their first year of life.

These numbers show just how bad things have gotten. Behind each number is a family without the care they need.

Governor Hobbs submitted a solid plan. It would bring more doctors to rural areas, expand telehealth, improve maternal care, and support people managing chronic illnesses. These are real solutions. But without full funding, they won't reach the people who need them most.

Arizona got less money than most states because only 11.5 percent of our population lives in rural areas. But that number misses something vital: many rural hospitals serve far more people than the census shows. In Mohave County, hospitals with an Arizona address don't just treat locals — they care for patients from eastern San Bernardino County and southern Nevada, where medical options are even more limited. On top of that, our population swells every winter as seasonal visitors arrive. Snowbirds and short-term residents drive up demand for emergency care, urgent care, and routine services. None of that shows up in federal formulas, but it shows up in our waiting rooms. And it stretches our resources thin.

It gets worse. The same federal law that created this funding also slashes Medicaid. That means fewer people with health coverage and more patients flooding emergency rooms they can't afford. Hospitals already stretched thin will be expected to pick up the slack. That's not fair, and it's not sustainable.

Arizona did its part. Now it's time for the federal government to do better.

-- River City Newspapers