Rural healthcare is an important piece of the puzzle for Terry County residents, and now there will be a representative from BRMC to help push some legislation on the federal level on behalf of BRMC and rural healthcare systems.
Recently Brownfield Regional Medical Center Clinic Director Michael Tackitt was selected as the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) 2023 Bill Finerfrock Health Policy Fellow. According to NARHC, they promote rural health clinics as a means of improving and sustaining the availability of quality, cost-effective health care to patients in rural, medically underserved areas. NARHC works with Congress, federal agencies, and rural health allies to expand and protect the interests of rural health clinics, like the BRMC Clinic. NARHC members can become actively engaged in the legislative and regulatory process through the Association.
Like BRMC, rural health clinics comprise an integral part of the nation’s health care delivery system. There are over 5,100 federally certified rural health clinics that provide primary care services to more than 8 million people in 45 states. 19% of healthcare is rural and 81% is urban. At the same time, the number of providers and physicians per capita is much lower in rural settings versus urban ones. In rural clinics, there is an average of 13 physicians per 10,000 people and urban clinics have an average of 31 physicians per 10,000 people.
When looking at the social aspect of rural health care, rural residents tend to be poorer. On average, per capita income in rural areas is $9,242 lower than the average per capita income in the United States, and rural Americans are more likely to live below the poverty level. The disparity in incomes is even greater for minorities living in rural areas and about 25% of rural children live in poverty. Also, rural residents have greater transportation difficulties reaching healthcare providers, causing longer travel to reach a doctor or hospital.
Tackitt believes Bill Finerfrock’s legacy of lobbying and representation is one of the major reasons why the RHC program has survived numerous legislative threats over the last several decades. He said, “Bill aggressively defended the program from cuts and harmful changes while ensuring NARHC educated and trained RHC professionals like you and me.” Several months ago, Tackitt received an email from NARHC about a new fellowship that was created to honor Bill’s legacy by growing a new generation of leaders and advocates within the RHC community. “I felt a calling to this fellowship and after serious consideration, I applied and was ultimately chosen for the program,” Tackitt said.
Tackitt would introduce himself to the NARHC community and give a brief history of his career and how he ended up managing a rural health clinic. Tackitt began his medical career in 2004 when he enlisted in the Army as a Combat Medic, serving three active duty years and six years in the reserves. After leaving active duty Tackitt enrolled at South Plains College in Levelland and attained an Associate of Applied Science degree in EMS and his paramedic license, plus he worked for several EMS agencies and eventually ended up as the Deputy Director of EMS at Brownfield Regional Medical Center EMS in Terry County. During Tackitt’s tenure as Deputy Director of EMS, he would go back to school, attaining his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. He served several years in this position, then in March of 2019, I was asked by the hospital C.E.O. to leave EMS and manage the Rural Health Clinic.
Then there was a sudden switch from being a paramedic and managing an EMS service to running a rural health clinic, Tackitt said, “was jarring and difficult. I felt overwhelmed by the rules and regulations and frankly worried that I had bit off more than I could chew. Fortunately, my hospital leadership brought in a subject matter expert the day I was hired, JoeAnn Moore, and she held my hand through the transition. Joe helped me study for my CHRCP and has been a constant source of information and guidance. Her knowledge, experience, and friendship is the reason I am still working in the RHC.”
Tackitt has set two goals during his fellowship. First, he wants to learn about the lobbying efforts that NARHC is leading and lend his unique life experiences to help guide legislation that is helpful for all RHCs. Second, he wants to continue to grow his knowledge about the rules and regulations that apply to RHCs and become a resource for new clinic managers to utilize when they need help or guidance. “I believe that all new RHC leaders need a “JoeAnn” in their corner and I want to be that person for as many people as possible. I am honored to serve through the Bill Finerfrock Health Policy Fellowship,” said Tackitt.
While Tackitt is in DC, he’ll help tackle the Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act which is a bipartisan piece of legislation introduced by Senators Senators (John Barrasso-WY (R), Tina Smith-MN (D), Marsha Blackburn-TN (R), and Michael Bennet-CO (D)
According to the RHC Burden Reduction Act, it will be, if passed into law, a regulatory relief bill containing 5 important provisions, intended to modernize RHC program policies to make them more reflective of the changing healthcare landscape which are:
- Modernizes RHC physician supervision requirements by aligning them to state scope of practice laws governing PA and NP practice.
- Removes the requirement that RHCs must “directly provide” certain lab services on site and allows RHCs to instead offer “prompt access” to these services.
- Allows RHCs the flexibility to contract with or employ PAs and NPs.
- Maintains status quo location eligibility, allowing RHCs to be located in an area that is not in an urban area of 50,000 or more, given that the Census Bureau no longer utilizes the term “urbanized area.”
- Allows RHCs to provide increased behavioral health services when located in a mental health-HPSA.
Tackitt said, “I’m ready to hit the ground running, and I’m excited to be a part of this lobbying effort. Also, I’m excited for this to be a bipartisan bill.”
Tackitt will spend the month of June 2023 in Washington DC.
