USDA pledged nearly $35 million to increase educational opportunities and health care access in rural areas in 35 states. Funded by the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program through USDA's Rural Development agency, the money will go to projects such as the purchase of videoconference equipment for rural schools, clinics and hospitals.

The House passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which includes provisions addressing rural health care issues. Reimbursement rates for the public option featured in the bill were not tied to Medicare rates, which traditionally underpay rural physicians. Instead, payment rates would be negotiated by the government. The bill would also fund the study of of geographic payment disparities.

Among other measures, the bill would provide a 10 percent payment incentive for primary care physicians who work in underserved areas, notably rural communities, which are home to 20 percent of the population but only 9 percent of doctors. It also provides funding for community health centers, an important source of care in rural areas.

Secretary Vilsack announced an award of $30 million in stimulus funds to 36 projects to improve rural health care facilities. Overall, USDA says, its Rural Development agency has awarded $94 million to more than 146 health care projects in rural communities with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Secretary Vilsack announced that $56.6 million in community facilities and emergency responder projects will be immediately funded through money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. About $19 million (plus $6.9 million from other sources) will be used to help rural communities in 39 states pay for emergency services and systems, as well as fire and rescue equipment and police, fire and medical vehicles.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack acknowledged in his confirmation hearings the difficulties rural communities are facing as the economic downturn takes its toll and pledged to use his department's resources "to guarantee that the communities where those farmers and ranchers live can grow and prosper." Meanwhile, in his confirmation hearings, Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle assured senators that he would work to increase the number of doctors and nurses in rural communities and to modernize rural practices by expanding broadband access and the use of health IT.