There are several people living in the poverty-stricken mountains of Appalachia who go without health insurance (they are ineligible for Medicaid) and who are in dire need of health care. A group of nurse practitioners in Wise, Virginia meet these uncovered, untreated patients in an RV they call The Health Wagon. Inside the RV, they give medical treatment for those in need, for free.
60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley recently took a ride on The Health Wagon and discovered many of the people who come to The Health Wagon wait until the very last minute to get help. According to The Health Wagon website, compared to the rest of Virginia residents, Health Wagon clients are 50 percent more likely to die from suicide, and 40 percent more likely to die from unintentional injuries. 60 Minutes airs Sundays at 7pm on CBS.
