Sangamon Sun

November 21 marks National Rural Health Day, a time to honor healthcare workers serving rural communities and reflect on the challenges faced by these areas in accessing medical care. In recent years, residents of rural Illinois have experienced a significant decline in both access to and quality of healthcare services.

The National Rural Healthcare Association reports a stark contrast in physician availability between urban and rural areas. Urban communities have 263 doctors per 100,000 patients, whereas rural areas only have 30 doctors per the same number of patients.

In response to this issue, the Illinois House Republican Caucus is working on solutions for rural residents. State Representative Brad Fritts (R-Dixon) has proposed legislation aimed at increasing the number of physicians in these communities. HJRCA 15 is a constitutional amendment designed to limit malpractice costs for healthcare providers in Illinois.

“In my district, we have seen a concerning trend of providers, especially those who provide specialty care, leaving our state in droves,” said Rep. Fritts. “One reason for this is we have no liability cap on malpractice insurance costs that are absolutely unsustainable for providers. This amendment would give the General Assembly the ability to institute a liability cap to bring that cost down and ensure that our providers can actually afford to do their jobs in rural areas.”

State Representative Mike Coffey supports this legislation as a House Sponsor.

“It’s vital that rural communities across Illinois have access to healthcare professionals to ensure they have the resources they need to protect their health,” said Rep. Coffey. “Having access to affordable healthcare should not be a burden to families, and this legislation would improve healthcare services, jobs, and the safety of rural Illinoisans.”

Accessing specialty care such as mental health services, obstetrics and gynecology, and dental care remains particularly challenging in rural regions. The University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center found that 59% of rural counties lack hospitals providing obstetric services. This absence can discourage new families from settling in these areas due to limited care options.

Rep. Fritts emphasized the severity of this situation: “It is unacceptable that we have healthcare deserts in our rural communities. I have constituents who would be required to drive nearly an hour for OBGYN care, which is incredibly dangerous for mothers and deters new families from residing in our community. If we want people and families to stay and grow in the state of Illinois, we should start by increasing access to healthcare.”

National Rural Health Day serves as a reminder of the urgent need for improved healthcare access in rural parts of Illinois. Many residents live with few medical provider options available nearby, posing risks not only to their health but also hindering potential population growth in these communities.