Rural health care is in crisis in Texas: More than one-fifth of Texas’ 254 counties have only one doctor or none at all. Of the state’s 158 remaining rural hospitals, just 66 deliver babies. More than half of Texas counties have no OB-GYN. And because of this, people are dying.
Reporters Sophie Novack and Christopher Collins spent months digging into the crisis. Throughout their reporting process, we asked readers to share their experiences seeking care in far-flung parts of the states. We heard stories about doctor shortages, hospital closures, and insurance troubles. Many rural Texans told us they struggled to find coverage near their homes and were forced to make hours-long drives to reach necessary providers. These are some of their stories.
