TEXAS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

TEXAS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Multiple social-economic disparities characterize the state of Texas. The distribution of resources in the region shows a significant divide between the rural and the urban areas. Besides, the dwellers of the two areas also express significant differences in political ideologies and support for political parties. Although the state has been in existence in both the Democrats and Republican leadership eras, it appears that there is still a long way to go before a balance between urban and rural life is attained. In this regard, this paper will explore the different disparities in Texas by comparing the politics, medical care, and economic opportunities in urban and rural Texas.

Healthcare in Texas in unevenly distributed, with the rural residents remaining as the major losers. While the urban centers are characterized by easy access to physicians and a quick response to medical emergencies, the situation is wanting in the rural areas. On average, the Texas rural health is ranked position 36 in the United States with an average grade of D-[1]. The region is characterized by little to no access to healthcare services owing to a lack of physicians and resources. The physicians in Texas are kwon for settling close to their residency leading to a situation where the people in the rural areas have to travel long distances to access healthcare. On average, about eighty counties in rural Texas rely on about five physicians making it very hard to meet the medical needs of the vast region[2].

Unequal distribution of resources seems to be the major reason behind the huge health disparities in Texas. On average, 55% of the physicians in Texas practice in the five most populated cities in Texas (that have only 40% of the population). This implies that about 60% of the people that live in the vast area in the State have to rely on the remaining 45% of the physicians[3]While the urban areas enjoy the extensive presence of physicians, attempts in rural areas to improve medical care access are always faced by multiple challenges. In the last decade, for example, about 26 hospitals established in the rural areas have been closed owing to lack of resources and physicians[4]. Besides, the existing hospitals are also at risk of closure as most of the graduates from these regions prefer to work in urban areas.

In a bid to create a balance in healthcare provision between rural and urban areas, the State considers finding ways that will see medical practitioners choose to practice in rural areas. Some of these suggestions include allowing nurses to diagnose and prescribe medications as well as paying student`s to practice in the regions so that they won`t migrate to the urban areas[5]. Although the suggestions sound practical, a look at the health outcomes between the urban and rural Texas shows that there is more to the healthcare disparities than the lack of physicians.

Generally, urban Texas is perceived to have more opportunities, as opposed to Rural Texas. This can be explained by the significant population differences in the two regions. Despite covering less than a quarter of the area covered by Rural Texas, urban Texas hosts more than 70% of the areas` population. Besides, the urban area is also considered to the home to the most educated and the affluent population in the region. On average, only 17.5% of the population in the urban areas lacks a high school diploma as compared to the 21.9 % in Rural Texas. Rural Texas also leads in poverty levels with an 18.3% poverty rate: which is 3% above the poverty rate in urban areas[6]. These factors can be related to the reduced literacy and affordability of healthcare insurance services. The rural Texas population of people less than 65 years tops nationally in the number of uninsured people where only 74% of the population is insured[7]. This implies that in addition to the limited healthcare resources, the society is ill-informed about the importance of healthcare insurance. Uncompensated care has therefore been in the increase and hence the economy of the region is likely to be o the decline if appropriate measures are not employed.

The healthcare disparities in Rural and Urban Texas have also played a significant role in affecting the opportunities and quality of life in in the region. Unlike the urban areas where people can easily thrive through health-care related businesses, such businesses hardly thrive in the rural areas owing to a low economic potential. Taking the case of the 26 closed hospitals in the last once decade, for example, businesses such as pharmacies ended up closing in fear of lack of customers or referrals[8]. Besides, the farmers and the students living in the areas are forced to not only travel for long distances to see a doctor but also suffer the consequences of low public health education. For this reason, Texas remains in the list of leading states in the number of deaths from chronic illnesses[9].

Bibliography

Bolin, Jane, Bree Watzak, and Nancy Dickey. “Rural Hospital Closings Reach Crisis Stage, Leaving Millions Without Nearby Health Care.” Texas A&M Today. N.p., 2019. Web. 4 Dec. 2019.

Collins, Christopher. “Report: If Rural Texans Want Decent Health Care, They Should Mosey To New Hampshire.” The Texas Observer. N.p., 2019. Web. 4 Dec. 2019.

Curran, Doug, Rebecca Hart, and John Henderson. “Commentary: A Health Care Crisis Threatens Texas, And No One’S Talking About.” Statesman. N.p., 2019. Web. 4 Dec. 2019.

Miller, Allisa. “Local Physicians Working On Improving Health Care In Rural Texas.” https://www.newschannel10.com. N.p., 2019. Web. 4 Dec. 2019.

Nextar Media Group. “WTAMU Hosts Discussion On Need For Medical Professionals In Rural Areas.” Myhighplains.com. N.p., 2019. Web. 4 Dec. 2019.

[1] Collins, Christopher. 2019. “Report: If Rural Texans Want Decent Health Care, They Should Mosey To New Hampshire”. The Texas Observer. https://www.texasobserver.org/first-kind-report-puts-rural-health-care-texas-among-nations-worst/.

[2] Nextar Media Group. 2019. “WTAMU Hosts Discussion On Need For Medical Professionals In Rural Areas.” Myhighplains.Com. https://www.myhighplains.com/news/for-your-health/wtamu-hosts-discussion-on-need-for-medical-professionals-in-rural-areas/.

[3] Miller, Allisa. 2019. “Local Physicians Working On Improving Health Care In Rural Texas.” Https://Www.Newschannel10.Com. https://www.newschannel10.com/2019/11/06/local-physicians-working-improving-health-care-rural-texas/.

[4] Nextar Media Group, para 2.

[5] Nextar Media Group, para 6

[6] Collins, para 5

[7] Collins, para 7

[8] Bolin, Jane, Bree Watzak, and Nancy Dickey. 2019. “Rural Hospital Closings Reach Crisis Stage, Leaving Millions Without Nearby Health Care”. Texas A&M Today. https://today.tamu.edu/2019/09/30/rural-hospital-closings/.

[9] Curran, Hart and Henderson para 4