Introduction
How do we ensure access to affordable, quality health care for
our rural citizens? How do we select Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement
approaches that help rural health care facilities keep their doors
open? How can we attract health care providers to rural communities?
Rural health policy is the set of principles and plans of action
our government uses to address these and other rural health issues.
Rural health policy takes place at the Federal, State and local
levels of government. Many people and organizations are involved
in the formulation of rural health policy, including lawmakers,
government agencies, membership organizations, rural health researchers,
rural providers, rural patients, and concerned citizens.
These groups work to identify potential improvements to the provision
and availability of health care services in rural communities
through the implementation of health policy that addresses the
specific needs and concerns facing rural areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools
AHA Issues: Rural Health Care
Web site
Information on American Hospital Association (AHA) advocacy activities related to rural hospitals. Includes news, resources, and more.
AHA Section for Small or Rural Hospitals
Web site
Information on American Hospital Association (AHA) advocacy activities on behalf of small and rural hospitals. Includes information about the Section, advocacy activities, publications, and other resources.
Code of Federal Regulations
Web site
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. Each volume of the CFR is updated once each calendar year and is issued on a quarterly basis.
Code of Federal Regulations: Title 42 Public Health
Web site
Provides access to Code of Federal Regulations' health related provisions, including Medicare and Medicare.
Daily Health Policy Report
Web site
Daily news stories on a variety of health policy issues. Includes a searchable archive.
Directory of Rural Health Contacts: Congressional Committees and Advisory Bodies
Web site
Contact information for Congressional committees and advisory bodies of interest to the rural health community.
Directory of Rural Health Contacts: House Rural Health Care Coalition
Web site
Contact information for members of the U.S. House of Representatives' Rural Health Care Coalition.
Directory of Rural Health Contacts: Senate Rural Health Caucus
Web site
Contact information for U.S. Senators who are members of the Senate Rural Health Caucus.
Geographic Eligibility for Rural Health Grant Programs
Web site
Identifies the Non-Metropolitan counties that are eligible for Rural Health Grant Programs. In addition, ZIP Codes in areas of Metropolitan counties that meet certain criteria of eligibility are also listed for these grant programs.
Health Policy Picks
Web site
A monthly selection of recent publications, such as technical reports, conference proceedings, and other material produced by organizations and government agencies that conduct health care policy analysis and research.
Health Reform
Web site
Offers customized fact sheets for each state, together with a directory of topics providing background information on the impacts health reform may have on the states and D.C.
Health Reform Gateway
Web site
Serves as a center of information produced by Kaiser on health reform. Site includes an interactive tool for comparing major health reform proposals and characteristics, plus videos and Webcasts of Kaiser briefings, public opinion results, and a timeline listing congressional and White House events related to the health reform debate.
Health Reform Resources
Web site
Offers quick access to the Commonwealth Fund research and analysis that informs the health care policy debate.
HealthCast
Web site
Webcasting service that provides access to a wide range of health policy events, including seminars, conferences, press briefings, and congressional hearings
KaiserEDU
Web site
Detailed resource lists and tutorials on health policy and public health topics, with links to publications, data, and organizations. Topics covered include Medicare, Medicaid, the uninsured, quality of care, and more. Designed for health policy students and faculty.
NACHC Health Reform Hub
Web site
Serves as a clearinghouse of information on various health reform proposals, including fact sheets, testimony, legislation and other resources specific to the role of health centers within a reformed health care system.
NRHA Policy and Advocacy Overview
Web site
Information concerning the current National Rural Health Association's advocacy efforts to support rural health.
Office of Rural Health Policy: Policy Overview
Web site
Provides information and resources from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy related to ORHP's rural health policy work.
Official NRHA Policy Documents & Statements
Web site
Links to NRHA member approved and adopted positions and official documents of interest to the rural health community.
ORHP Grantee Testimonials: Advocates for Rural Healthcare
Web site
Six recipients of HRSA's Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) funding, talk about ORHP's role in protecting the rural safety net in their communities in these short video clips from the 2009 Grantee Partnership Meeting.
Regulations.gov
Web site
Supports public participation in the Federal decision-making process by allowing users to view and submit comments on proposed and final regulations.
Reports on Health Care Reform That Works for Rural America
Web site
Presents various reports related to health care reform initiatives that can address and seek to abolish existing rural health issues.
Rural Health Disparities Information Guide
Web site
Lists research, websites, and frequently asked questions related to rural health disparities.
Rural Health Research & Policy Centers
Web site
Provides an overview of the purpose of the rural health research centers program. Includes information on ORHP-funded research centers, projects and research.
Rural Health Research Gateway
Web site
Provides access to all of the research and findings of the Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Centers. Covers current and completed research projects and publications resulting from those projects. Includes information about the research centers and individual researchers.
Rural Health Voices
Web site
This blog, sponsored by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), offers news and opinion postings related to health care in rural America.
Seeking Rural Health Data: A Tool Kit
Web site
Provides State Offices of Rural Health and the public with a toolkit for accessing and utilizing national databases that are readily available, free, and have useful rural information.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals
Web site
Provides an interactive comparison summary for key components of all the major health reform proposals in the Senate, the Congress and President Obama's.
Funding
Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program
The program's purpose is to expand the pool of students of color interested in the field of health policy.
Commonwealth Fund Health Grants
Supports independent research on health and social issues and makes grants to improve health care practice and policy.
Health Impact Project
Funding to promote the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) as a decision-making tool for policymakers.
Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowships
Fellowship program which develops the capacity of outstanding midcareer health professionals and behavioral and social scientists with an interest in health to participate in health policy processes at the federal level.
Inactive Funding
Inactive Funding Opportunities -
Lists additional funding programs for this topic that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.
Regulations, Forms & Other Useful Documents
10 Rural Issues for Health Care Reform
Author(s): Jon M. Bailey
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
Examines the health care issues and challenges facing rural America including: increased heath care costs, large numbers of uninsured and underinsured, and an overextended health care infrastructure.
Date: 03 / 2009
2007 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health and Human Service Issues
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
Report to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Examines three key topics in health and human services and their effects in rural areas: Medicare Advantage in Rural Communities, Head Start in Rural Communities, and Substance Abuse in Rural America. Includes recommendations to address these topics.
Date: 01 / 2007
Advancing the Health and Well-Being of Rural Communities
Author(s): Keith Mueller
Sponsoring organization: American Public Human Services Association
Discusses the future of health care delivery for rural America that includes access, community health and wellness.
Date: 10 / 2009
Bridging Rural Health Research and Policy: Dissemination Strategies
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Timothy D. McBride, Andrew F. Coburn, Rebecca T. Slifkin, Mary K. Wakefield, A. Clinton MacKinney
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel
Describes five strategies for effective dissemination and expanded use of rural health
services research and discusses the infrastructure needed to enhance rural health research dissemination.
Date: 08 / 2007
Burden of Poverty in Rural America
Author(s): Beth Landon
Sponsoring organization: American Public Human Services Association
Discusses how poverty impacts health. Identifies key rural economic development areas and how they may strengthen the health and wellness of rural communities.
Date: 10 / 2009
Choosing Rural Definitions: Implications for Health Policy
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, Keith J. Mueller, Rebecca T. Slifkin, Mary K. Wakefield
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel
Provides an overview of rural definitions and their policy implications. Discusses the factors that should be considered in selecting among rural definitions.
Date: 03 / 2007
CMS Value-Based Purchasing Program and Critical Access Hospitals
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, Keith J. Mueller, Rebecca T. Slifkin, Mary K. Wakefield
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel
Addresses the implications of value-based purchasing (VBP) for the cost-based reimbursement that CAHs receive. Describes the Rural Health Panel's recommendations for action.
Date: 01 / 2009
Coverage and Cost Impacts of Expanding Medicaid
Author(s): Bowen Garrett, John Holahan, Allison Cook, Irene Headen, Aaron Lucas
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
This paper estimates that 49 million Americans are uninsured in 2009 and analyzes several options of expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income uninsured populations.
Medicaid to cover more low-income uninsured populations.
Date: 05 / 2009
Dialogue on U.S. Health Reform
Sponsoring organization: Healthcare Leadership Council
Reports on a meeting of leaders from widely diverse national organizations to discuss their mutual commitment to reform of the nation’s health care system.
Date: 03 / 2009
Disseminating Rural Health Research to State and National Audiences: A Communications Toolkit for Health Researchers
Author(s): Wendy Opsahl, Amanda Scurry, Mary Wakefield, Patricia Moulton, Kristine Sande, Naomi Lelm
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
Includes approaches for both developing various research-related documents and disseminating research results.
Date: 11 / 2008
Expanding Health Coverage for Low-Income Adults: Filling the Gaps in Medicaid Eligibility
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
Reviews coverage of non-elderly low-income adults and discusses the implications of broadening their coverage by filling gaps in Medicaid eligibility.
Date: 05 / 2009
Farm Bill Reauthorization: Implications for the Health of Rural Communities
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
Overview of the impact the Farm Bill has on rural health and rural communities, with recommendations for the 2007 reauthorization of the Farm Bill.
Date: 11 / 2006
Finding Resources for Health Reform and Bending the Health Care Cost Curve
Author(s): Rachel Nuzum, Stephanie Mika, Cathy Schoen, Karen Davis
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Presents a menu of health reform options, along with impact estimates, to help policy leaders identify the resources required to make health coverage for all and improved health system performance a reality. Covers the Path option, which can assist small practices and rural areas in implementing effective Health Information Technology (HIT).
Date: 06 / 2009
Health Reform: The Cost of Failure
Author(s): John Holahan, Bowen Garrett, Irene Headen, Aaron Lucas
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
This report uses the Health Insurance Policy Simulation Model (HIPSM) to quantify the intermediate and longer-term implications if America’s health care system is not significantly overhauled.
Date: 05 / 2009
Highlights of Rural Perspective/Commentary Regarding "Proposed Options to Improve Patient Care and Reduce Health Care Costs" (Executive Summary)
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Highlights comments from the RUPRI (Rural Policy Research Institute) Health Panel on the Senate Finance Committee document for the purpose of discussion on rural implications of proposed policy reform options.
Date: 05 / 2009
Highlights of Rural Perspective/Commentary Regarding "Proposed Options to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans" (Executive Summary)
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel
Provides highlights from the commentary on the Senate Finance Committee document on affordable health coverage for all Americans and the rural implications of this proposed policy.
Date: 06 / 2009
Hospital and Physician Capacity Update
Author(s): David C. Goodman, Elliott S. Fisher, Kristen K. Bronner
Sponsoring organization: Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice
Reports on the distribution of health care resources due to regional variation in hospital and physician capacity and how this distribution can influence an affordable health care system.
Date: 03 / 2009
Improving Knowledge Transfer Among Health Researchers and Decisionmakers at the Border: An Expert Meeting
Sponsoring organization: Office of Rural Health Policy
Summarizes a June 26, 2007 meeting to identify ways to improve the translation and dissemination of U.S.-Mexico border health research produced in the United States so as to maximize its use by decisionmakers in health policy and practice.
Date: 06 / 2007
Knowing What Works in Health Care: A Roadmap for the Nation
Sponsoring organization: Institute of Medicine
Results of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation request that the Institute of Medicine convene a committee to recommend methods to better identify the most effective health care services. This report provides a blueprint for a national clinical effective assessment program.
Date: 2008
Medicaid and Its Importance to Rural Health
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, Rebecca T. Slifkin, Mary Wakefield
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel
Overview of the impact that Medicaid has on rural health. Covers the role of Medicaid in rural areas as a source of health insurance, as a revenue source for rural providers, and as a contributor to the community by supporting its health care system and local economy.
Date: 05 / 2006
Medicare Advantage Plans in Rural America
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, Keith J. Mueller, Rebecca T. Slifkin, Mary K. Wakefield
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel
Identifies key policy issues and questions concerning the impact of Medicare
Advantage (MA) in rural areas.
Date: 10 / 2007
National Rural Assembly 2008 Final Report
The Assembly, now in its second year, serves as an event where rural issues and policy are discussed and acted upon to promote positive change. This year's report describes how the Assembly is moving forward in four policy areas—health, natural resources, education, and community investment.
Date: 06 / 2008
NRHA 2008 Legislative and Regulatory Agenda
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
Outlines rural health care policy issues in order to promote legislative and regulatory issues for action by Congress, federal regulatory agencies, the White House, states, and the health care industry.
Date: 2007
Office of Rural Health Policy FY 2007 Annual Report
Sponsoring organization: Office of Rural Health Policy
Contains the annual report of the federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) for Fiscal Year 2007. Includes information on ORHP's budget, policy activities, special projects, grant programs, and staff.
Date: 07 / 2008
Office of Rural Health Policy Strategic Plan, FY 2005-2010
Sponsoring organization: Office of Rural Health Policy
Strategic plan listing the mission, vision and goals for the years 2005-2010 for the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP).
Date: 08 / 2005
Paying a Fair Share for Health Coverage and Care
Author(s): Jill Bernstein
Sponsoring organization: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Provides a framework of different ways that
people can pay for health coverage and care, drawing on research and illustrations from existing private and public sector programs and other industrialized nations.
Date: 01 / 2009
Quality Through Collaboration: The Future of Rural Health Care (Full Report)
Sponsoring organization: Institute of Medicine
Examines the quality of health care in rural America. Includes recommendations to improve health care quality and safety in rural communities. Addresses workforce, information technology, finance and other factors that impact rural health care quality.
Date: 11 / 2004
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
Issue paper providing an overview of racial and ethnic health disparities in the United States and in rural areas of the U.S. Discusses strategies that can be used to address health disparities and includes policy recommendations.
Date: 05 / 2006
Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2009
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report.
Date: 03 / 2009
Report to the Congress: Promoting Greater Efficiency in Medicare
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
Describes the changing beneficiary profile
in Medicare and its implications for the program. Examines approaches to promote greater efficiency
in the Medicare program. Includes discussion of Medicare Advantage (MA), the wage index, and Medicare coverage of drugs.
Date: 06 / 2007
Report to the Congress: Reforming the Delivery System
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
Describes a direction for Medicare payment and delivery system reform; makes recommendations to promote primary care; and examines hospital–physician collaborative relationships.
Date: 06 / 2008
Rural Health Care: Innovations in Policy and Practice
Sponsoring organization: Grantmakers in Health
Discusses strategies being used to build capacity and improve health care access in rural areas.
Date: 03 / 2009
Rural Health Information Technology
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
Issue paper discussing health information technology (HIT) and its implications for rural health care. Issues discussed include HIT standards, privacy, skills, and finance.
Date: 02 / 2006
Rural Perspective/Commentary Regarding "Expanding Health Care Coverage to All Americans" (Full Report)
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, Rebecca T. Slifkin
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel
Provides commentary from the Rural Health Panel on proposed options for expanding health care coverage that have a special, significant meaning for rural areas.
Date: 06 / 2009
Rural Perspective/Commentary Regarding "Transforming the Health Care Delivery System: Proposals to Improve Patient Care and Reduce Health Care Costs" (Full Report)
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, Rebecca T. Slifkin
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Outlines the potential impact on rural America of the proposed policy reform options from the Senate Finance Committee in this full report of the RUPRI Health Panel.
Date: 05 / 2009
Snapshot of the President's Budget FY2010: What's In It for Rural America?
Author(s): Brian Dabson
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Provides an overview of President Obama's Budget for the United States Government during FY 2010 and specifically identifies proposals that would benefit rural people and places.
Date: 05 / 2009
Snapshots from the Kitchen Table: Family Budgets and Health Care
Author(s): Michael Perry, Julia Cummings, Julia Paradise, Tanya Schwartz
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
Reports on a study based on in-depth interviews with low- and middle-income working families about their financial and health care challenges.
Date: 02 / 2009
State Rural Initiatives: Where the Money Comes From
Discusses how states are financing rural programs, projects and initiatives. Includes descriptions of over 40 programs, projects or initiatives that are statewide in scope.
Date: 01 / 2006
Too Great A Burden: Americans Face Rising Health Care Costs
Sponsoring organization: Families USA
An analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Census Bureau revealing how many American face high health care costs.
Date: 04 / 2009
Toward More Effective Use of Research in State Policymaking
Author(s): Jack A. Meyer, Tanya T. Alteras, Karen Adams
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Offers a conceptual framework to support effective use of health services research in state health policymaking. Provides practical lessons and communication strategies. Includes a case study of Massachusetts' health care reform legislation.
Date: 12 / 2006
Trends in Health Care Costs and Spending
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation
Presents key statistics about the level and growth of health care costs and spending in the
U.S. Includes links to additional resources.
Date: 03 / 2009
Journals
Health Affairs
Peer-reviewed publication focusing on U.S. health policy and health care. Content is available free online after three years.
Journal of Rural Health
Offers research of projects to improve rural health, statistics, and mathematical models. Provides summaries of recently published rural health research. Provides links to author, subject and abstract indexes.
Kaiser Health News (KHN)
An independent news service, to report on the nation's health care system and the political and policy debates surrounding it.
NRHA eNews
Provides updates on government affairs and on funding and educational opportunities related to rural America.
Rural Roads
NRHA magazine focusing on human-interest stories and successful rural programs.
Organizations
AcademyHealth
Academic/Research
Promotes interaction across the health research and policy arenas by bringing together a broad spectrum of players to share their perspectives, learn from each other, and strengthen their working relationships.
American Hospital Association (AHA)
National organization
Represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, patients and communities.
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
National organization
National nonprofit organization representing the state and territorial public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia. ASTHO's members are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy, and to assuring excellence in state-based public health practice.
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Federal government
The audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of Congress.
Maine Rural Health Research Center (MRHC)
Academic/Research
One of six Rural Health Research Centers funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy. Works to inform health care policymaking and the delivery of rural health services, focusing on rural health care financing and system reform, rural long term care, and rural mental health.
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC)
Federal government
An independent federal body that advises the U.S. Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program.
National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP)
National organization
Works to help states achieve excellence in health policy and practice. Conducts policy analysis, provides training and technical assistance to states, and convenes state, regional, and national forums.
National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS)
Federal government
21-member citizens' panel of nationally recognized rural health experts that provides recommendations on rural issues to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
National organization
Provides services and technical assistance to community, migrant, and homeless health centers.
National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC)
National organization
Works to improve the delivery of quality, cost-effective health care in rural underserved areas through the Rural Health Clinics (RHC) Program.
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
National organization
National organization for state lawmakers and legislative staff members.
National Governor's Association (NGA)
National organization
Provides governors and their senior staff members with services including representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration, developing policy reports on innovative state programs and hosting networking seminars for state government executive branch officials.
National Health Policy Forum (NHPF)
National organization
A non-partisan health policy information exchange program that works to foster more informed government decision-making. NHPF primarily serves the senior staff in Congress, the executive branch and congressional support agencies.
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH)
National organization
Works to foster and promote legislation, information exchange, education, and liaison activities with all State Offices of Rural Health, the federal Office of Rural Health Policy, the National Rural Health Association, and other organizations.
National Rural Health Association (NRHA)
National organization
Promotes leadership, ideas, information, communication, education, research, advocacy, and methods to improve rural health. Composed of individual and organizational members who share a common interest in rural health.
National Rural Network (NRN)
National organization
Works to create awareness and understanding of those public policies which enhance the viability of Rural America.
NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Academic/Research
Focuses on changes in Medicare payments to rural providers, access to care for rural residents, and rural public health infrastructure.
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)
Academic/Research
One of six Rural Health Research Centers funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy. Works to identify rural health problems through policy-relevant analyses, geographic and graphical presentation of data, and information dissemination. Focuses on rural hospitals and healthcare delivery organizations and access.
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Federal government
Promotes better health care service in rural America. Part of the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Focuses on matters affecting rural hospitals and health care, coordinating activities within the department that relate to rural health care, and maintaining a national information clearinghouse.
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Academic/Research
Focuses on rural health care financing/system reform, rural systems building, and meeting the health care needs of special rural populations.
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI)
Academic/Research
Conducts policy-relevant research and facilitates public dialogue to assist policymakers in understanding the rural impacts of public policies and programs.
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel
Academic/Research
Provides decision makers with timely, objective, and expert analysis of the implications of policy for rural health.
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center (SCRHRC)
Academic/Research
One of six Rural Health Research Centers funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy. Focuses on investigating persistent inequities in health status within the population of the rural U.S., with an emphasis on inequities stemming from socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, and access to healthcare services.
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center (UMRHRC)
Academic/Research
One of six Rural Health Research Centers funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy. Undertakes national projects focusing on quality of rural health care and other rural health issues by combining expertise with the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center and the University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health.
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center (WVRHRC)
Academic/Research
One of six Rural Health Research Centers funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy. Conducts policy-relevant research on environmental health in rural populations and other topics.
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center (WWAMI RHRC)
Academic/Research
One of six Rural Health Research Centers funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy. Focuses on training and supply of rural health care providers, availability and quality of care for rural women and children, and access to high-quality care for vulnerable and minority rural populations. Based in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Terms & Acronyms
Advocacy Communication and action taken by an individual or organization in support of an issue or cause.
Final Rule The final version of a regulation issued by a regulatory agency to implement some aspect of a law and published in the Federal Register.
Health Policy Principles and plans of action to address issues of concern to the provision and availability of health care services.
Membership Organization A group of individuals or organizations that works together to achieve goals relevant to the concerns and needs of the membership.
Policy Principles and plans of action that a government uses to address an issue and achieve specific goals.
Proposed Rule A draft version of a regulation issued by a regulatory agency that will be used to implement some aspect of a law. Proposed rules are published in the Federal Register along with a request for comments from interested parties.
Regulatory Agency A government agency that is assigned to enforce laws passed by the government, often by issuing and enforcing specific rules related to those laws.
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