News from rural America.

Libraries in rural Texas are doing double duty as they loan books and lend telehealth expertise, as health insurance costs soar, some turn to their local Farm Bureau and rural communities are getting federal help to fix aging water infrastructure.

TRANSCRIPT

For the Daily Yonder and Public News Service, this is the news from rural America.

Libraries still lend out books, but in rural Texas, they may also be the closest link to a doctor.

Local libraries are helping residents, especially older adults, navigate telehealth with technical assistance and medical equipment.

Erin Ray, director of the Jeff Davis County Public Library, says many local folks want to age in place in their own communities.

Anything that can help them access doctors and specialists and not have to leave their home or not have to tax their limited income, it's really useful.

Older rural residents who want to use telehealth often face issues with broadband access, new technology, and shifting policies.

At the library in Sundown, Texas, Director Andrea McAdams says the staff at their new telehealth hub can help one-on-one.

I know it's a time commitment, but I think it's something that would help them feel better about using technology.

In other health news, the cost of insurance is soaring, and that's leading some rural residents to seek help from their local farm bureau.

Ilana Newman has more.

Farm bureaus in 14 states now offer health plans, but they typically don't cover what regulated insurance does.

Michelle Andrews reports for KFF Health News.

They're not insurance plans.

I want to be really clear about that.

Insurance marketplace plans have to offer essential benefits like drug coverage and preventative services.

Andrew says the Farm Bureau plans can be cheaper, but they don't have to cover everything or accept everyone.

Farm Bureau plans can choose to offer what they want to offer.

Do they want to cover maternity benefits?

Do they want to offer drug coverage?

They can make all of those choices on their own because they're not bound by any state laws.

Enrollees complete an application and can be refused coverage for pre-existing conditions, even minor ones like high cholesterol.

I'm Ilana Newman.

Many rural communities are hard-pressed to fix their aging water systems, but a renewed federal initiative called Real Water Technical Assistance can help them meet safety standards.

Charles Stevens with the National Rural Water Association says using Real Water TA, small water systems can get aid from the association with the technical staff they need.

A lot of rural communities don't need big expensive projects.

They need help making what they already have work better or help getting into compliance with one of the regulations.

Real Water TA doesn't fund repairs or upgrades, but helps get loans and grants to the USDA's Rural Development Office.

Stephen says the best part is that means it doesn't cost anything for the small water systems to address an aging infrastructure and reduce chemical contaminants.

If somebody's having a problem, they call us.

We're already being paid through EPA, so there's no charge to the community.

For the Daily Yonder and Public News Service, I'm Roz Brown.

For more rural stories, visit dailyyonder.com.