NYSARH is a member of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), a national nonprofit membership organization that brings together thousands of members across the United States. The association’s mission is to provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education and research. NRHA membership consists of a unique collection of individuals and organizations, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health.
Policy Resources
The NRHA Legislative Tracker enables members to view the rural health bills the association is monitoring, supporting, and opposing. Bills are searchable and categorized by topic area, and by clicking on a bill, you can find its summary, review cosponsors, and stay up to date on Congressional actions.
- NRHA has invested in Voter Voice grassroots advocacy software to make it easy for members to contact their representatives regarding current issues. These links are updated frequently as legislation makes its way through Congress.
This sheet shows total Medicaid enrollees, Children enrolled in CHIP or Medicaid, “Dual Eligibles” (Qualified for both Medicare and Medicaid), Average premium increase without EPTC
Not sure of your congressional district or who your member is? This service will assist you by matching your ZIP code to your congressional district, with links to your member’s website and contact page.
Advocacy Leave Behinds
Coordinated grassroots efforts by NRHA members and other rural health advocates are critical to ensuring rural populations have access to health care. NRHA’s advocacy focuses on three pillars:
- Investing in a Strong Rural Health Care Infrastructure – Testing new payment models of care, while proving stabilizing relief for rural providers, including rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, rural PPS 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.
- Building Rural Health Opportunity – Medical deserts are appearing across rural America leaving many without timely access to care. Addressing rural health gaps and declining life expectancy rates are a top priority for NRHA.
- Investing in a strong safety net
- Since 2010, almost 200 rural hospitals have shuttered their doors or discontinued inpatient services. Nationally, nearly 50% of rural hospitals are operating with negative margins and therefore vulnerable to closure.
- Creating a robust rural health workforce
- Maintaining an adequate supply of primary care providers remains one of the key challenges in rural health care. Nearly 80%of rural America is medically underserved.
- Building rural health opportunity
- Medical deserts are appearing across rural America leaving many without timely access to care. Addressing rural health gaps and declining life expectancy rates are a top priority for NRHA.
