Southwest Colorado needs a real plan for rural healthcare access. Naomi has one.
In a new op-ed published in the Rocky Mountain Voice, Naomi lays out a practical, bipartisan approach to rural healthcare access. Her plan is built around four principles: access, provider capacity, sustainability, and flexibility.
Specifically, her proposal would let Medicaid patients voluntarily access direct primary care without losing coverage. It would also make it easier for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives to serve rural communities. And it would cut the administrative burden that pulls small clinics away from patient care.
The op-ed also draws a clear contrast on the record. HB26-1096 passed the House 40-22 with bipartisan support. However, Naomi’s opponent voted against it in committee and again on final passage. She also voted to postpone a bill addressing midwife privileges at public health facilities.
Rural healthcare access isn’t a Front Range talking point. It’s whether a family in Southwest Colorado can find a provider, whether an expectant mother can get care close to home, and whether a patient ends up in the ER simply because there was no timely alternative. Naomi’s plan treats that as the practical, local problem it is.
Learn more about Naomi’s priorities for Southwest Colorado.
Naomi Riess, Candidate for Colorado House District 59
This op-ed originally appeared in the Rocky Mountain Voice.