On Feb. 25, leaders from the Archuleta Rural Health Network gathered with a shared purpose: ensuring that residents of Archuleta County, especially those who are uninsured or underinsured, or who are navigating Medicaid eligibility, have meaningful access to care.
Representatives from Pagosa Springs Medical Center, Axis Health System, the Archuleta County Public Health Department and Healthy Archuleta came together to reaffirm two guiding priorities for 2026: improving cultural responsiveness in health care delivery and strengthening advocacy, education and navigation supports to increase access to preventive care.
The conversation highlighted both progress and pressure.
Across the system, partners shared encouraging steps forward in bilingual capacity and culturally responsive care. New bilingual providers have joined the community, interpretation services are being strengthened and a newly secured health equity grant will support improvements in clinic practices. Organizations are also refining how they ask about social factors related to health outcomes and ensuring that materials and workflows are accessible to all residents.
Workforce development emerged as a central theme. Community health workers (CHWs) continue to play a vital role in helping patients navigate insurance, appointments and follow-up care. Currently, there are three credentialed CHWs in Archuleta County, two of whom received training support through Healthy Archuleta’s efforts to expand Community Health Worker credentialing in Archuleta County. Monthly gatherings of navigators and care coordinators are further strengthening collaboration and shared problem-solving across agencies.
At the same time, leaders spoke candidly about the growing instability in insurance.
Providers are seeing an increase in self-pay patients as Medicaid coverage shifts and some families lose marketplace subsidies. Seasonal employment patterns and rising private insurance premiums are creating difficult gaps for middle-income households that do not qualify for sliding-scale programs yet struggle to afford coverage. These trends raise concerns about delayed preventive care and long-term health impacts in a rural system already operating under tight margins.
Throughout the meeting, one theme remained clear: Collaboration is essential. In a rural community, no single organization can solve these challenges alone.
By aligning around shared goals, strengthening workforce pipelines and listening closely to community feedback, the Archuleta Rural Health Network continues working to reduce barriers to care and ensure residents have access to the services they need.
The network will carry this work forward throughout 2026 with a continued commitment to access, equity and the long-term sustainability of rural health care in Archuleta County.
The Archuleta Rural Health Network entered a formal planning phase during 2024-2025 with support from HRSA funding, bringing partners together to assess needs, define shared priorities and build a coordinated framework for rural health collaboration.
The network was formally established in June 2025 and continues to serve as a cross-sector table dedicated to strengthening access, reducing barriers and improving health outcomes across Archuleta County.
To learn more about the efforts of the Archuleta Rural Health Network, please visit www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/archuleta-rural-health-network.html.
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