Within Virginia, one of 13 states that fall within the Appalachian region of the United States, the current overall poverty rate is 10.6%, giving the state a 10th place ranking on a list of the top 10 states with the lowest poverty rates. However, the average poverty rate of the southwest corner of the state, which includes the 6 counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Lee, Scott, and Wise, is double that of the state, at 21.9%.

Supported entirely by grants and donations, The Health Wagon has been providing free health care services for the often medically underserved and indigent individuals—who are either underinsured or uninsured—in this part of Virginia for more than 4 decades.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with The Health Wagon’s President and CEO Teresa Tyson, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, FAANP, and Clinical Director Paula Hill-Collins, DNP, MSN, FAANP, to learn more about the often urgent services they provide, to discover how the not-for-profit innovates care through culturally sensitive services for its rural residents, and to discuss the importance of health care equity.