DONIPHAN — A community forum on rural health care will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 12, at Doniphan Community Center (101 Washington Street, Doniphan).
Panelists/facilitators include Jackie Dover, public information director with Aging Matters; Russell French, president of the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce; Matt Michel, Ripley County attorney; and Kathy Ellis, candidate for U.S. Congress. It will be hosted by Kathy Ellis, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District, along with Tammy Harty, candidate for Missouri State Senatorial District 33.
The event is free and open to the public, according to a press release. Organizers say it is a space to ask questions of panelists, share experiences of accessing health care in the district, and begin to work together to identify solutions to the rural health care crisis. All are invited, regardless of party, affiliation, or opinion on the topic, they said.
“The 8th District is facing a health care crisis. With rural hospitals closing and health care costs on the rise, we must begin working together to address these issues. This is not an event where candidates or community leaders will tell you what you should believe, or even who you should vote for. It’s a space for all people to come together and start identifying possible solutions. We may not agree on the solution to the problem, but we can agree that there’s a crisis at hand. We must begin to work together,” said Ellis.
This forum is the first in a series of forums throughout the district, according to organizers.