Articles: treatment.
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Rural America faces an alarming obesity crisis, with residents experiencing significantly higher rates of obesity due to socioeconomic disparities, limited access to healthcare, and structural challenges such as food deserts and insufficient healthcare infrastructure. This perspective addresses these pressing issues by proposing targeted, evidence-based interventions to reduce obesity in rural communities. ⋯ R. 1577, the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, to alleviate financial barriers to treatment, including intensive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy; and (3) leveraging community-based programs, including the National Rural Obesity and Chronic Disease Initiative, the CDC's High Obesity Program, and the Delta Body and Soul initiative, to improve access to healthy foods and promote physical activity through local collaborations, education, and infrastructure enhancements. By implementing these comprehensive strategies, we aim to make obesity treatments and healthy lifestyle choices more accessible, ultimately reducing obesity rates, improving health outcomes, and enhancing the overall quality of life for rural residents across the USA.
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Behavioral health care access is inadequate and new primary care-based strategies are needed to meet the rising demand. Behavioral health integration (BHI) models, such as collaborative care (CoCM) or the primary care behavioral health (PCBH) model, are often touted as actionable and sustainable solutions. The intent of such models is to bring behavioral health expertise into medical settings with the aims of improving outcomes, increasing treatment capacity, and reducing stigma. ⋯ Recent encouraging developments include technical assistance opportunities for MBC implementation and emerging payment models that emphasize MBC. However, concerns remain surrounding the limitations of existing MBC billing codes. Ultimately, with continued advocacy and thoughtful policy decision-making, MBC has the potential to be a solution to the current behavioral health crisis.