Governor Plans to Increase Access to Rural Healthcare

McAdoo, Schuylkill County - In exactly one week, Governor Tom Corbett is expected to deliver his 2013-2014 state budget address.

As the days tick down, we're beginning to learn what some of the governor's priorities will be.

The governor's address has overtimes been a lightning rod of controversy, as he has proposed deep cuts to education and social services.

On Tuesday, we learned the governor plans to increase the amount of money that the state spends on healthcare in rural and underserved areas.

For people in part of Schuylkill County, getting to their nearest healthcare facility has been a challenge in the past.

Enter St. Luke's Miners Health Center on North Kennedy Drive in McAdoo.

"Being able to come here and being able to walk here, it's easy to get here," Melissa Young of McAdoo said. "We don't have to worry about transportation. We don't have to worry about what the weather is doing."

Michael Wolf, the commonwealth's acting secretary of health stopped by the facility on Tuesday morning. He says Governor Corbett will make additional funding for facilities like this a top priority.

"It's a very good step for us, considering that the budget for this year was approximately $1 million," Wolf said. "It's a significant increase for us."

In next year's budget, Governor Corbett plans to spend $5 million funding community healthcare centers and other medical services in rural areas.

"If it wasn't for the rural health clinics, patients would not have this access. They would typically use the emergency department," St. Luke Miners campus president Bill Moyer said.

For people in the McAdoo area, they say it's reassuring to know that they have a healthcare facility close to their home in case they need it.

"I think it's very helpful. I have friends who have used it and they love it. They're very polite and they'll take you in in a second," Kim Sochka of McAdoo said.