Letters

Rheumatology care

Health care, especially specialty care, is becoming more and more difficult to access. Thankfully, the Rural Health Fund created in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is a major step toward fortifying health care in rural communities. As the Arkansas Department of Health decides how to use our portion of the $50 billion being allocated across the country, it's crucial that rheumatology care is not overlooked.

Our state already has far too few rheumatologists to meet patient demand, particularly in our rural communities. This has created an access crisis, leaving our sickest residents with few options. Rural clinics struggle to recruit providers, forcing patients to travel long distances to see a specialist. Even then, they often wait weeks or even months for an appo