Health plans serving rural service areas confront significant health care delivery challenges, including lack of access to health care, provider workforce shortages, food deserts, poor transportation infrastructure, and inconsistent Internet. Health plans serving the more than two million people who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid living in rural communities—approximately 21 percent of all dually eligible individuals—cope with these same issues. While the barriers are complex, health plans can take actionable steps to improve health outcomes for dually eligible individuals living in rural areas. 

In this conversation, RIC’s speakers explore the health equity challenges facing rural communities-particularly as they affect dually eligible individuals-and provide innovative, evidence-based strategies health plans can employ to address them. Speakers discuss health and social disparities in rural areas, the role of social determinants of health (SDOH), innovative partnerships, and provider engagement. 

View the Webinar Transcript here
By the end of this conversation, participants should be able to: 
  1. Describe the unique health equity challenges facing both providers and enrollees in rural areas.
  2. Understand the implications of health equity challenges on access and health outcomes, particularly among dually eligible individuals.
  3. Consider diverse strategies and approaches health plans can use to improve health care access and equity in rural areas across multiple domains—including engaging providers and extending provider reach, identifying and addressing SDOH, and leveraging technology-based solutions.

This conversation targets a wide range of health care providers working with dually eligible enrollees, including health plans, health systems, clinicians, social workers, and rural health organizations. 

Featured Speakers: 
  • Dr. Brandon G. Wilson, Senior Director, Center for Community Engagement in Health Innovation, Community Catalyst
  • Diana Jackson, Director of Care Coordination and Integration, Geisinger Health Plan
  • Amy Lynn Buterbaugh, Director of Medicaid Expansion, Geisinger Health Plan

Disclaimer: This page contains technical assistance products from the Resources for Integrated Care website. All page information and materials are aimed at assisting providers and health plans in integrating and coordinating care for dually eligible beneficiaries.