Rural Public Health
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased need to spotlight and focus on public health priorities. Rural communities and populations are not exempt from this spotlight. Multiple examples of rural health disparities emerged in the public health literature, including infectious disease, health care access, and racial health inequities. Additionally, public health agencies have emerged to address chronic disease and health disparities within the populations they serve. Rural public health agencies, specifically, work to protect and improve the health of rural populations by preventing injuries and the spread of disease, protecting rural populations against environmental hazards, promoting and encouraging positive health behaviors, responding to disasters, and many other populations health support. We encourage you to utilize the following advocacy materials and external resources when you are advocating for rural public health!
Leave Behind Materials:
Relevant NRHA Policy Papers:
- Rural Childhood Immunizations
- Emergency Preparedness for Rural Communities (Updated)
- Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Initiatives to Address Rural Health and Health Disparities
- QI in Rural Healthcare
- Urban Bias in Rural Data Sets
- Firearm Safety in Rural America
- Rural Public Health
- Structural Factors that Impact Rural Life Expectancy
- Community Health Initiative Success Stories Impact
- The Impact of Aging Baby Boomers in Rural America
- Rural Health Preparedness
- Rapid Response Vaccine Distribution
- Rural Community Violence: An Untold Public Health Epidemic
- HIV/AIDS in Rural America: Disproportionate Impact on minority and Multicultural Populations
Relevant NRHA Public Comments:
- CDC Office of Rural Health
- Response to Rep. Miller-Meek's Request for Information on CDC
- Response to House Request for Information on the Pandemics and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA)
- Response to Senate HELP Request for Information on PREVENT Pandemics Act
- Letter to HHS on public health emergency flexibilities ending
- SAMHSA's role in climate change Request for Information
- HHS Request for Information on Environmental Justice
- CMS COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule
- HHS RFI on COVID-19 public health emergency waivers
- HRSA FRN on definition of rural