Introduction:
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is a non-profit organization that focuses on the health and well-being of individuals in rural areas. This presentation will investigate the NRHA’s key issues, mission, legislative agenda, how the agenda is developed and communicated, how the agenda is pushed and promoted, current lobbying efforts, key partner coalitions, whether their partnerships influence policies, key obstacles, spending allocations, and information obtained from the Center for Responsible Politics.
- Key Issues: The NRHA focuses on various key issues affecting rural communities, including access to healthcare, rural workforce shortages, rural health policy, and rural hospital closures.
- Mission: The NRHA’s mission is to provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research.
- Legislative Agenda: The NRHA’s legislative agenda includes various bills aimed at improving healthcare access and quality in rural communities. Some of the current legislative priorities include supporting rural hospitals, expanding telehealth services, and addressing workforce shortages.
- Development of Agenda: The NRHA’s legislative agenda is developed through various committees and task forces, which review issues affecting rural communities and develop recommendations for policy changes.
- Communication of Agenda: The NRHA communicates its agenda to members through various channels, including email updates, newsletters, and social media.
- Promotion of Agenda: The NRHA promotes its agenda through various mechanisms, such as organizing grassroots advocacy campaigns, engaging with policymakers, and participating in coalitions.
- Current Lobbying Efforts: The NRHA is currently lobbying for various bills aimed at improving healthcare access and quality in rural communities, such as the Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act and the Rural America Health Corps Act.
- Key Partner Coalitions: The NRHA collaborates with various partner organizations, including the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and the National Association of Rural Health Clinics.
- Influence of Partnerships: The NRHA’s partnerships have influenced policies at the local, state, and national levels by increasing awareness of rural health issues and advocating for policy changes.
- Key Obstacles: Some of the key obstacles the NRHA faces include limited resources, competing interests, and lack of political will.
- Spending Allocations: The NRHA’s spending allocations are primarily focused on advocacy efforts, including lobbying, grassroots organizing, and policy development.
- Center for Responsible Politics: The Center for Responsible Politics reports that the NRHA has spent over $300,000 on lobbying efforts in the past year.
- Position Statements and Testimony: The NRHA provides various position statements and testimony to policymakers, advocating for policy changes to improve rural health outcomes.
- Media Reports: Various media reports provide more information on the NRHA’s current lobbying efforts, including their advocacy for the Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act and the Rural America Health Corps Act.
Conclusion: The NRHA plays an important role in advocating for policy changes to improve healthcare access and quality in rural communities. Through its legislative agenda, partnerships, and lobbying efforts, the NRHA works to increase awareness of rural health issues and promote policy changes to improve rural health outcomes.