Tagged: health insurance exchange

Every Friday, KBIA’s Health and Wealth Desk curates the week’s most interesting (or so we think) articles and reports on rural health, wealth and society issues.

Osteopathic Physicians: An Answer To Rural Health Care Needs?

It’s no secret the U.S. is facing a shortage of primary care physicians – especially in rural areas, which is home to some 20 percent of all Americans, but only has 9 percent of all physicians. Compared to specialized medicine such as surgery and cardiology, primary care does not pay as well – and the average student loan debt for med school graduates is $161,290. Only about 24 percent of MD graduates lean to primary care. That’s not the case with recent osteopathic medicine graduates, though.  

Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder is urging state lawmakers to refrain from creating a health insurance exchange or expanding Medicaid when they convene for their regular session next year. 

Regional news from the KBIA Newsroom, including:

• Koster won't file appeal for Carnahan on health ins. exchange ballot language
• Akin runs, rides in rural NW Missouri parade
• Soil may be a source of antibiotic resistance

There will be no challenge to the new language inserted onto a ballot initiative by a Cole County judge regarding health insurance exchanges.

The version initially approved by Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) had asked if state law should, “deny individuals, families and small businesses the ability to access affordable health care,” unless the people or the legislature created an exchange.  In a statement, Carnahan says Attorney General Chris Koster (D) refused to file an appeal on her office’s behalf.  Lt. Governor Peter Kinder (R) filed suit against Carnahan over that language.  He applauded the Democratic Attorney General’s move.

A Cole County judge has struck down language authorized by Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan in a ballot initiative dealing with the creation of a health insurance exchange.