Advocacy Priority Areas
Coordinated grassroots efforts by NRHA members and other rural health advocates are critical to ensuring rural and underserved populations have access to health care. The documents listed below are resources to articulate specific policy asks on the rural health issues you care most about. Use these materials as follow up resources when talking to your state and federal leaders.
Rural Health Legislative Agenda
NRHA’s advocacy focuses on three pillars:
- Investing in a Strong Safety Net - Testing new payment models of care, while proving stabilizing relief for rural providers across the safety net, including rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers.
- Reducing Rural Healthcare Workforce Shortages - Assisting rural communities seeking to recruit, train, and retain health care professionals through testing new models of team-based care, reforming rural Graduate Medical Education, and supporting workforce programs like the National Health Service Corp.
- Addressing Rural Declining Life Expectancy and Rural Equity - By addressing health disparities and inequities in rural communities through ensuring access to coverage, investing in public health, and prioritizing chronic disease prevention and obstetrical support.
NRHA Critical Health Extenders and Programs
Urge Congress to Extend Rural Healthcare Bills and Programs
FY 2025 Appropriations Asks Table
Robust funding for rural health care
NRHA supports robust funding for the entire rural health care safety net. While current spending for all rural health discretionary programs is relatively small, it plays a critical role in solidifying the fragile health care infrastructure in rural communities.