Earlier this month, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously advanced two pieces of legislation meant to improve health care access, improve early intervention efforts and expand community-based care. Both were spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio.

Now, the entire House will get a look at the Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act and the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act (harder to come up with language that leant itself to an acronym for that one, it seems).

“Alzheimer’s disease and dementia continue to impact millions of families across the country, including more than 236,000 Ohioans,” said Balderson. “In many rural communities, primary care providers are on the front lines of dementia care but often lack consistent access to specialists and advanced training resources. The AADAPT Act helps address that challenge by giving providers the tools and clinical support they need to identify cognitive decline earlier, improve care coordination, and connect patients and families to treatment options sooner — regardless of where they live.”

Balderson’s office described the effort as something that will help close the diagnosis gap and reduce care disparities in rural communities. Those are challenges with which is own constituents are all too familiar.

Regarding school-based health centers, Balderson again appears to have his own communities in mind.

“In many rural and underserved communities, provider shortages and transportation barriers can make it difficult for families to access timely pediatric and behavioral health services. Reauthorizing this program expands access to preventive care, mental health support, and early intervention services so students can stay healthy and be better positioned to succeed both inside and outside the classroom,” he said.

These are measures that will be important to folks in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District, there is no doubt. But they are good for all vulnerable and underserved communities, and Congress should act accordingly.