Rural Advocacy and Policy


America’s rural hospitals are committed to serving their communities and ensuring local access to high-quality, affordable health care. The AHA is working to ensure federal policies and regulations are updated for 21st century innovation and care delivery, and new resources are invested in rural communities to protect access.

On this page, you can find our most up to date rural advocacy agenda, our rural report, the latest AHA regulatory advisories, comment letters, fact sheets and more.
 

Learn More About the Rural Health Advisory Committee

 

Featured Resources 

2023 AHA Rural Hospital Advocacy Agenda
Rural hospitals and health systems are the lifeblood of their communities and are committed to ensuring local access to high-quality, affordable health care. At the same time, these hospitals are experiencing unprecedented challenges that jeopardize access and services. The AHA continues to work with Congress and the Administration to enact policies to support rural hospitals. We also are working to support a public policy environment that will protect access to care, advance innovation, and invest new resources in rural communities.

Rural Hospitals: Community Cornerstones Facing Perilous Threats to Care Infographic 
Millions of people living in rural areas depend on their community’s hospital as an important — and often the only — source of local care. Rural hospitals provide care close to home and serve as economic anchors in the areas they serve. But they face major challenges, and further federal support is needed to ensure access.

Special Bulletin: Rural Emergency Hospitals New Provider Type Effective Jan. 1
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released more information on how rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) can apply for conversion to an REH.

Survey Brief: Drug Companies Reduce Patients’ Access to Care by Limiting 340B Community Pharmacies
The results of this survey add to the growing body of literature illustrating the harmful impacts that drug companies’ actions are having on 340B patients and providers.


 

 

 

                        Rural Voices Video