60 Minutes Revisits Health Care in Virginia’s Appalachia

by Dan Sullivan

Scott Pelly rendezvoused with Health Wagon’s Teresa Gardner and Paula Hill-Meade for a return engagement that will be
featured on 60 Minutes this Sunday at 7 PM EST. Since the original segment about
the mobile clinic, financial support has improved but need continues to outstrip resources.

Without Medicaid expansion or a Republican alternative nearly
one million residents of Virginia will continue without health insurance and
adequate access to healthcare. Health Wagon and Remote Area Medical are the only figurative and
literal band aids.

Health Wagon’s clientele:

The poverty rate among the population served by the
Health Wagon is 70% to 140% higher than in the rest of Virginia.

43.4% live on incomes less than 200% of the federal
poverty rate, compared with 27.1% statewide.

49.3% of those over the age of 25 do not have a high
school diploma, compared with 24.8% statewide.

Chronic unemployment rates are five times higher than
the statewide average.

Adults in the Health Wagon coverage area age 35-64
die 30% earlier than the same population in the rest of Virginia.

Additionally, as compared with the rest of Virginia:

Health Wagon clients are 21% more likely to die from
diseases of the heart.

Health Wagon clients are 14% more likely to die from
diabetes.

Health Wagon clients are 35% more likely to die from
COPD.

Health Wagon clients are 40% more likely to die from
unintentional injuries.

Health Wagon clients are 50% more likely to die from
suicide.

Please share to increase awareness of this Free Mobile Clinic
providing care to the uninsured and under-insured in our mountains. The last two
years have seen double the number of patients due to the number of lost coal mining
jobs. And contribute to both the Health Wagon and Remote Area Medical whatever
you can.