State of Health 2026

It’s not exactly easy to get health care these days, especially in rural areas like the Upper Delaware River Valley. 

It’s hard to find an available appointment, what with a national shortage of health care professionals that’s worse in rural areas. Once you make an appointment, you’ll likely need to travel long distances through areas with limited public transportation. And even when you get there, the cost of care and the difficulties involved with insurance mean paying for the health care you need is its own set of challenges. 

It’s easy to say that health care is in trouble. This year, with national elections just around the corner, health care has become a battleground of sorts, with talking points and pointed fingers around who or what’s to blame for the state it’s in. 

But what’s the real state of health care? That’s what the River Reporter set to find out. 

This special section will take you through a broad overview of the state of health care in the Upper Delaware River Valley and beyond. We’ll start by going over some of the changes that the industry is about to face, with changing Medicaid rules affecting patient eligibility—and hospital finances. Then, we’ll look specifically at women’s health care, and go over some of the challenges involving women’s health care in rural settings and the work that’s being done to address them. 

Then, we’ll get to talking with some of the people who are pushing the conversation forward, looking out for the present and future of health care. We’ve got discussions with elected officials and health care professionals in Sullivan County, with a special look at how SUNY Sullivan is raising the next generation of nurses and how state legislators are eyeing the challenge of making sure no one goes without health care. 

Finally, we’ll end with a reflection from River Reporter publisher Reverend Laurie Stuart, relating her time providing solace as a minister with Tampa General Hospital’s Clinical Pastoral Education Program. 

We hope you come away informed and inspired—and hope that you stay healthy, this and every season!

And as a post-script: This special section would not be possible without our partners. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar generously provided reporting for this section, and the findings from this section will air on Radio Catskill as a special discussion. Additionally, funding to support the reporting in this special section was provided by the Rob Stuart Media Futures Fund, a non-profit, donor-advised fund held by the Wayne County Community Foundation for the purpose of supporting the River Reporter’s work. If you enjoy this section, consider giving Radio Catskill a listen (or a look, at  radiocatskill.org), or consider giving a donation to the Rob Stuart Media Futures fund (bit.ly/RSMFFdonate), or you can send a check to the Wayne County Community Foundation, 918 Church St., Ste. F, Honesdale, PA 18431. Put the Rob Stuart Media Futures Fund in the memo. 

Section Editor

Liam Mayo