In Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta, Millions Face Long Drives to Stroke Care

Across the nation, nearly 800,000 people suffer strokes each year. The issue is particularly acute across the regions of Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta, where more than 80% of counties have stroke death rates above the national average. Many of these counties also face high rates of poverty and are home to vulnerable elderly populations. They have a shortage of medical providers or have seen local hospitals shutter.Kaiser Health News, Read More.

As Gulf South lawmakers fight over Medicaid, new moms weigh in: ‘Safety nets do save lives’
Need an organ transplant in Mississippi? You may be out of luck thanks to an insurance dispute.

One day in early 2020, a Madison man noticed blood in his mouth. His symptoms escalated, and by the end of that week, he was in the intensive care unit at Merit Health Madison. When he woke up from a procedure, the gastroenterologist told him his liver was in bad shape.He had end-stage liver disease, and the only treatment option was a liver transplant. The next two years consisted of a double hip replacement, numerous procedures on his esophagus and visits with an array of specialists, including psychologists. MS Today, Read More.