A Guide to Making the Case for Breakthrough Outcomes

More than 46 million Americans live in rural communities — yet these populations experience disproportionately higher rates of hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory illness, suicide, and drug overdose deaths.

The Challenges in Rural Healthcare

The challenges in rural healthcare are systemic and growing:

• 80% of U.S. counties have healthcare deserts
• Rural areas average only 30 primary care physicians per 100,000 people
• Transportation barrier, long drive times, and rising fuel costs limit access to care
• Social isolation and stigma continue to reduce access to mental health support
• Chronic conditions often go unmanaged between visits

The Opportunity: Medication Adherence Support

One of the most overlooked opportunities to improve rural health outcomes is medication adherence support. Individuals get prescriptions for their conditions—but up to 50% don’t (or can’t) follow them consistently. These individuals risk suffering unwanted health outcomes ranging from disease progression to death. Nationwide, medication nonadherence costs the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $528.4 billion annually.

When individuals consistently take medications as prescribed, rural communities can experience breakthrough improvements in both health outcomes and healthcare costs. 

That’s why Scene Health assembled this comprehensive resource for rural health leaders. We explain how medication adherence support addresses the top burdens you face; why the Scene Health approach is highly effective for rural communities; and what to factor into your business case for medication adherence support.

Inside the Guide

• 8 key challenges shaping rural healthcare delivery today
• A breakdown of what medication adherence support is and why it matters for rural areas
• The measurable benefits of medication adherence support for rural communities
• 3 real-world lessons learned from implementation efforts spanning Uganda to Mississippi
• 12 practical tips for building a compelling business case internally
• An overview of the Scene Health difference and turnkey support model
• A worksheet to evaluate potential impact for your rural communities
• An executive summary tear sheet for sharing with stakeholders