Rural Matters Archive

How will the government shutdown impact you?

For rural communities, the government shutdown isn’t just political—it’s deeply personal. Without steady funding, rural hospitals face the greatest risk of closure, rural families stand to lose their health insurance, and rural public schools could lose the funding that keeps kids fed and after-school programs running. Unfortunately, this was avoidable. The sticking point—funding healthcare for millions of families—should not be controversial. See what’s on the line in your state and take action.

Resources:

• Shutdown impact: What this means for school districts
• Down to the ZIP code: How much will medical costs increase in your community if Congress doesn’t fund healthcare in the appropriations bill?
• What is the rural health transformation fund?
• Where do states apply for the rural health transformation fund?

ER doc to Congress: ‘Our healthcare system is on life support’

ER doctor Bryce Pulliam testified at a U.S. House Steering and Policy hearing on the Republican healthcare crisis on Oct. 8 as the federal government entered its eighth day of the shutdown. House Democrats called the session to draw attention to what they describe as a looming catastrophe: millions of Americans—many located in rural areas—facing skyrocketing insurance costs if Congress fails to renew Affordable Care Act tax credits that are set to expire. Pulliam, a founding member and chair of the Southern Oregon Providers Association, which is part of the AFT’s Northwest Medicine United, Local 6552, urged Republicans to work with Democrats to fix the healthcare crisis.

Nurses and community win fight to save rural birth centers in Oregon

Communities in the small Oregon towns of Lebanon and Lincoln City are breathing a sigh of relief after the news that Samaritan Health Services reversed course and will keep labor and delivery and emergency surgical services open at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital and Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. The decision to preserve these critical healthcare services comes after a monthslong campaign led by nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association.

From chalkboards to AI: A teacher’s 65-year journey in a rural town

This year, Martha Strever marks 65 years of teaching at Linden Avenue Middle School in Red Hook, N.Y., and she isn’t stopping. From chalkboards and model rockets to Macs and artificial intelligence, she’s embraced every change while keeping students first. Beloved across generations, Strever says her purpose remains simple: “I just love the children.”