rural doctors

The bill would provide $25 million aimed at helping physicians, physician assistants and APRNs set up practices in rural communities and increase Medicaid payments for “critical access” hospitals.

The Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up Senate President Ben Albritton's priority "rural renaissance" bill next week, possibly sending it before the full chamber after the session starts in January.

In rural America, chronic pain and opioid addiction are common, but treatment is often harder to come by. In the village of Necedah, Wis., population 916, one doctor is changing that.