Health care reform addresses rural doctor shortage

President Barack Obama promised to attract more doctors to rural areas, and that goal is included in health care legislation under consideration in Congress.

A bill approved by the Senate specifically addresses doctors in rural areas. The bill would redistribute funding for training positions for doctors, assigning open positions to primary care and to underserved and rural areas. It would also provide grants to states for recruiting doctors to rural areas.

The Senate and the House have to reconcile their competing versions of the health care overhaul and vote on final passage. So we'll have to see if the provisions for rural doctors make it into the final bill. For now, we rate this promise In the Works.