BOLIGEE, Ala. (InvestigateTV) — Millions lack high-speed internet needed for virtual medical appointments in underserved communities.
Barbara Williams checks her blood sugar levels daily at her home on family land in this rural Alabama town, but when she needs medical care, poor internet connectivity becomes another health obstacle to overcome.
“It should be full and it should be right there. But I don’t have none as this guy. I only got one bar,” Williams said, holding up her phone to show the weak cellular signal that plagues this Greene County community of nearly 300 people.
Williams, 72, lives in Alabama’s Black Belt, a historic agricultural region that is predominantly Black and elderly. But in this rural town just off Interstate 20, there’s no high-speed internet, which decreases access to telemedicine and other digital health services that have become essential during the pandemic era.
In this episode of InvestigateTV+, we examine:
Digital Health Divide: Twenty-four million Americans lack broadband access needed for telemedicine, with rural communities experiencing higher rates of chronic diseases and earlier deaths.
Insurance Claim Denials: One in five insured adults experienced a denied claim in the past year, with complex paperwork and missing codes often leading to costly out-of-pocket expenses for families.
Lucy J’s Bakery Mission: Memphis bakery provides jobs and $15-per-hour living wages to families experiencing homelessness through partnership with Dorothy Day House nonprofit.
Train Wreck Inn Revival: Louisiana attorney transforms century-old railroad cars into unique Airbnb accommodations, breathing new life into historic railway relics in Grand Coteau.
Millions in US live in places where doctors don’t practice and telehealth doesn’t reach
Connectivity dead zones persist in American life despite at least $115 billion lawmakers have thrown toward fixing the inequities. Federal broadband efforts are fragmented and overlapping, with more than 133 funding programs administered by 15 agencies, according to a 2023 federal report.
“This is America. It’s not supposed to be this way,” said Karthik Ganesh, chief executive of Tampa, Florida-based OnMed, a telehealth company that in September installed a walk-in booth at the Boligee Community Center about 10 minutes from Williams’ home. Residents can call up free life-size video consultations with an OnMed health care provider and use equipment to check their weight and blood pressure.
Read the full investigation by clicking here.
How to navigate a healthcare denial
You pay your health insurance every month, expecting it’ll be there when you need it. However, what happens when your claim is denied?
Connecticut mom, Kelly Nielsen, learned how complicated it can be to get a claim approved. Her daughter, Layla, has a big personality, but she started out as a 3-pound preemie.
“She was a peanut,” said Nielsen. “Definitely a life-changing event to have a NICU baby.”
After more than 50 days in the NICU, Layla came home. On doctor’s orders, Kelly fed Layla a special neonatal formula.
“It was scary. It was regimented. I’m a first-time brand-new mom, so I’m like, ‘oh my God, I just have this peanut of a baby, and I’m going to follow everything that I’m told to the T,’” said Nielsen.
Neonatal formula isn’t cheap, but it can be covered by insurance. Nielsen kept all her receipts and submitted a claim to be reimbursed for around $600 worth of formula.
Months later, her claim was denied.
Recipe for Success: Memphis bakery offers jobs to sift out homelessness
In Memphis, Lucy J’s Bakery serves up more than just fresh bread and cinnamon rolls. The bakery, located inside Crosstown Concourse, provides employment opportunities for families experiencing homelessness through its partnership with Dorothy Day House.
Josh Burgess, the bakery’s executive director and head baker, takes pride in their products: “Our fresh bread is some of the best in the city. Our sourdough and our cheddar jalapeño bread are very, very popular. We have the best cinnamon roll in the world.”
However, the bakery’s mission extends beyond baking.
Read the full story by clicking here.
Louisiana’s Train Wreck Inn offers unique overnight stay blending history with modern
Grand Coteau is a small Louisiana town with aging Acadian-style houses and a few old stores, steeped in two centuries of Catholic history.
It’s the kind of place where it seems natural to find a couple of old railroad cars next to the post office.
Some of these rail cars, however, now carry a modern overnight twist to the history these cars have seen.
Read the full story here.