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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, National Rural Health Day, which is being observed |
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on November 18, 2021, provides a welcome opportunity to raise |
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awareness about health-care issues in rural communities; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 2011 by the National Organization of |
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State Offices of Rural Health, the initiative recognizes the |
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contributions as well as the unique needs of the approximately 57 |
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million Americans who live in rural communities; and |
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WHEREAS, Rural Americans provide the country with a wide |
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range of services and commodities, and yet they face numerous |
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challenges to receiving adequate health care; factors include |
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limited accessibility, higher rates of chronic conditions in aging |
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populations, and larger percentages of uninsured and underinsured |
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residents; in addition, there is a shortage of medical providers |
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available to serve those living in small towns and farming |
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communities; moreover, many rural residents receive most of their |
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medical care at rural hospitals, which have been negatively |
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impacted by declining reimbursement rates and disproportionate |
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funding; and |
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WHEREAS, National Rural Health Day celebrates the "can-do" |
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spirit that prevails in our rural communities while also calling |
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attention to the fact that there is much work to be done in ensuring |
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that rural Americans obtain the care they need; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate National Rural Health Day on |
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November 18, 2021, and recognize the important work of rural |
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hospitals and rural medical providers. |