It is no secret that there are many challenges confronting rural health care right now, from workforce shortages and declining reimbursement rates to threats to programs like 340B that support safety-net hospitals. But this week, as we celebrate National Rural Health Day on Nov. 20, I am reminded of the many reasons to be hopeful about the future of rural health care.

Earlier this month, the state of North Dakota applied for a share of the $50 billion that will be distributed nationwide beginning next year as part of the newly established Rural Health Transformation Program. With $1 billion on the line for North Dakota, the program could be one of the single greatest investments in rural health that our state has ever seen.

The Rural Health Transformation Program was designed to spur innovative and sustainable approaches to better serve the farmers, ranchers and small business owners who call rural communities home. And in order to qualify for funding, North Dakota crafted an application that demonstrates a strong vision for improving the health of our neighbors and stabilizing rural health care delivery.

As a health system that’s proud to serve mostly rural areas, Essentia Health was grateful to share our ideas for how hospitals can stabilize essential services, such as behavioral health and emergency care, while advancing workforce development and value-based care for the rural and Tribal communities we are privileged to serve. As we wait for the funding to be awarded, I am confident that North Dakota’s application is strong because it reflects the real experience and perspectives of compassionate caregivers on the front lines of rural care.

Here’s why I’m excited by this opportunity:

Attracting and retaining a strong health care workforce remains one of the most significant challenges confronting rural care. North Dakota’s application dedicates over $162 million to train and retain a high-skilled workforce through new residencies, workforce pipelines and recruitment and retention grants.

At Essentia, we’ve had success with first-of-its-kind training programs that address critical gaps in our health care workforce. We just celebrated the first graduate of our surgical technologist apprenticeship program in Fargo. These are the kinds of innovations we must continue pursuing to help care teams like ours advance our mission to make a healthy difference in people’s lives.

If awarded this funding, North Dakota plans to deepen its work to bring high-quality health care closer to home – a mission that Essentia Health whole-heartedly stands behind. With fewer clinicians to staff brick-and-mortar facilities, we need to get creative to meet people where they are – through new methods and in new spaces. A person’s access to expert care shouldn’t be determined by their zip code.

Essentia’s mobile mammography program is one example of how we can enhance access to preventive care without relying on traditional settings. The program brings essential mammography services directly to our neighbors in rural areas and could be expanded across other specialties. Since we rolled out this service, we hear repeatedly from patients who acknowledge they likely wouldn’t have done a screening if it hadn’t been available locally. Rural Health Transformation funds could be used to deploy mobile medical units to rural, underserved communities, with specific services tailored to the greatest needs of the community.

Finally, this funding would allow us to expand scalable programs, like our community health workers and community paramedics. These programs provide tailored support to patients with the goal of diminishing the rate of chronic disease, improving the health of our rural neighbors and reducing emergency room visits and hospital admissions.

The work to transform the future of rural health care has already begun at Essentia Health. The Rural Health Transformation Program represents an opportunity to expand our efforts to bolster our health care workforce, strengthen a care model that prioritizes prevention and patient outcomes and make it easier for North Dakotans to access comprehensive health care close to home.

As we celebrate National Rural Health Day, I am hopeful for the future of rural health care and especially grateful for my talented colleagues, whose dedication to advancing rural health care strengthens the communities where they live and work.

Dr. Stefanie Gefroh is the Essentia Health West Market president.

WASHINGTON (Valley News Live) – The House and Senate passed legislation Tuesday requiring the Department of Justice to publicly release government documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who died in federal custody in 2019.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed the House by a vote of 427-1 and the Senate agreed by unanimous consent that once the bill comes over from the House that it will be considered passed.

Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., said she voted for the files to be released to advance transparency efforts already underway.

“Jeffrey Epstein’s victims deserve justice, and the American people deserve answers,” Fedorchak said. “Back in September, I supported and the House passed a resolution that immediately directed the Oversight Committee to investigate, obtain, and publicly release key documents tied to Epstein’s crimes. Because of that action, the Committee has released more than 65,000 pages of records and issued multiple subpoenas of key individuals. I voted for H.R. 4405 to build on this work and the pursuit of long-awaited transparency, accountability, and justice for these victims. After multiple administrations and Congresses have kept this case in darkness, today is another big step forward into the light.”

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said through his office that he supports releasing the files.

“The Senator has said the files should be released, and that he would vote to do so. We should address the questions regarding the Epstein case in a responsible way that both protects victims and provides information to the American public in a straightforward and transparent way.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said he supports transparency while protecting victims.

“I’ve always said transparency is always preferable, as long as we can protect victims from additional exploitation. Two things can be true: perpetrators and sex abusers should be brought to justice, and Democrats didn’t lift a finger until they were no longer in power. This is not about justice, it’s about politics. Whether it’s through Congress’ ongoing release of files to the public or through passing this resolution, the Department of Justice must find the balance between transparency and protecting the privacy of victims and witnesses.”

North Dakota Democratic-NPL Chair Adam Goldwyn released the following statement.

“Julie Fedorchak has not magically found a backbone. For months, House Democrats and a handful of Republicans needed one more member of Congress to force this vote. How can she look herself in the mirror knowing that she alone could have moved this forward and she refused? She is a coward.”

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