WASHINGTON — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Sept. 14 announced new federal investment to expand school-based health care in rural North Carolina, deploying new clinic locations, telehealth services and mobile care units to reach children in medically underserved communities.
The program addresses documented pediatric care gaps in rural areas where physician shortages and transportation barriers leave many children without access to preventive or behavioral health services, CMS said. The investment includes a specific behavioral health component targeting the youth mental health crisis in rural America.
North Carolina has one of the nation’s largest rural populations, and many of its rural counties face severe health care access challenges. School-based health centers are increasingly recognized as effective tools for reaching children who would otherwise not receive care, particularly in communities without nearby pediatric providers.
The program uses schools as delivery sites for health services, eliminating the transportation barrier that prevents many rural families from accessing care. Telehealth services expand the range of specialists available to rural students beyond what local providers can offer.
The behavioral health component is particularly significant given the documented mental health crisis among American youth. Rural children face additional challenges, including isolation, limited access to counselors and higher rates of poverty, that compound mental health risks, according to federal health data.
CMS said the North Carolina model could serve as a template for rural school health expansion in other states. The investment is part of a broader administration strategy to address rural health care deserts through targeted federal funding.