Catlin’s Funding for Rural Health Care Bill Takes Effect
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Office of Colorado
State Representative Marc Catlin
303-866-2955
marc.catlin.house@coleg.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Catlin’s Funding for Rural Health Care Bill Takes Effect
Denver, Colorado – July begins the new fiscal year for Colorado’s State Government and the funding for bills passed and signed during the 2024 session. One such bill, Funding for Rural Health Care (SB24-221) is now law and in effect. This Act authorizes the Department of Higher Education to implement or expand existing rural track programs. The University of Colorado has a rural track program for medical students and places them in rural communities to study and practice healthcare. The funding mechanism of this bill transfers $1.7 million to the rural hospital cash fund to distribute money to rural hospitals across the state. The act also appropriates about $867,000 to the Department of Higher Education.
HD58 Representative Marc Catlin explains that it is not a secret the state of Colorado is facing a shortage of healthcare workers and the challenge is even greater in our rural communities. This legislation addresses a few of the facets, such as: providing more funds for our rural hospitals and building the pipeline for young doctors and healthcare workers to get situated in rural communities. The legislature agreed this legislation was worth the investment, passing with 94% approval. The prime sponsors are Representative Marc Catlin (R-HD58) of Montrose County, Representative Meghan Lukens (D-HD26) of Routt County, Senator Dylan Roberts (D-SD8) of Eagle County and Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer (R-SD23) of Weld County.
Representative Catlin says: “A very important aspect of the Rural Track Program is to help our towns bring home some of our brightest minds. Often, our number one export for smaller communities is our kids. We raise them right, to be leaders in their community, yet they struggle to find opportunities to come back home. This legislation helps build those opportunities for our young professionals.”
A great example is one of Montrose County’s top students, Theresa Tafoya, who has been given such an opportunity. Tafoya is a graduate of Olathe High School and a fourth-year MD student studying at the CU School of Medicine. She is the CU Student Rural Program Ambassador. Theresa Tafoya remarks about the program: “I was lucky enough to be a part of CU’s Rural Program, which places MD students in rural areas to learn from rural doctors and live in the community. This was a special experience for me because it allowed me to live at home in Olathe during my second year in school. I worked at Montrose Regional Hospital, learned from the community that raised me, and grew to more deeply appreciate rural living. Many of my peers do not understand how under appreciated and valuable rural communities are, how each town has unique culture and healthcare needs. Through Rural Program, we learn how to recognize those needs and advocate for the rural communities we live in.”
Founder and Director of the CU Rural Program is Dr. Mark Deutchman. As the Associate Dean for Rural Health at CU Medical School for the past 19 years, Dr. Deutchman continues to develop and expand this successful Rural Track Program. The program supports 15 distinct “rural tracks” which encompass 19 healthcare degree programs in 13 public colleges and universities in Colorado. The program now has medical degree graduates practicing medicine in 20 rural communities across the state.
Dr. Mark Deutchman states, “These tracks are designed to attract, admit and provide rural- based instruction and financial support to students that will increase the likelihood that they will settle and remain in rural areas of Colorado for the long term after they complete their training.” Deutchman states how comprehensive this program is, “The CU School of Medicine’s Rural Program Office provides technical assistance, curriculum and other support for the participating institutions which train physicians, nurses, dentists, physician assistants, behavioral health and public health professionals. A major focus of the initiative is to attract students from Colorado’s rural communities like Theresa Tafoya from Olathe who is now a fourth-year student in the MD program.” For more information about the Rural Program visit their website, here.
Colorado State Representative Marc Catlin represents the eight counties of Dolores, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel. Representative Catlin is the Vice Chair of Agriculture, Water, & Natural Resources Committee, is a member of the Capital Development Committee, and is Ranking member of the Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee.
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