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In 1976 over 53 million Americans lived in roughly 900 rural counties, which together make up about 40% of the land mass of this country. These areas are characterized by low population density, a disproportionate share of the country's poor and elderly, and shor ....

Middle of Essay
.... roads, which can be impassable in winter or when it rains can hinder people receiving medical services. Winstead-Fry, Tiffany, and Shippee-Rice (1992) stated that low incomes and high poverty rates are suffered by great amounts of the rural population, making health care insurance a relative luxury. Because of this, many ailments and injuries tend to go untreated. Another problem is the lack of physicians willing to work in rural areas. The Hill-Burton Act of 1946 represented a major effort by the federal government to increase health resources in underserved areas. This subsidized construction program made it possible for many communitie ....