LRHA ADVOCACY
2026 ADVOCACY AGENDA
| Priority | Areas of Focus |
| Investing in a Strong Rural Health Infrastructure |
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| Building a Robust Rural Healthcare Workforce |
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| Addressing Rural Health Equity |
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IN THE NEWS
Stay Tuned
Urge Congress to Invest in Rural Health
On April 3, 2026, President Trump released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget Request (PBR). The budget request calls for defunding longstanding, proven, and bipartisan rural health programs and reorganizing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The FY 2027 President’s budget calls for a $15.8 billion, or 12.5%, decrease in funding for HHS from the enacted FY 2026 level. This includes a $102 million decrease in funding for Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) programs and the elimination of core programs including the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex), the State Offices of Rural Health (SORH), the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program, and the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program.
Urge Congress to not eliminate core rural health programs in the final FY27 appropriations.
Urge Congress to Invest in Rural Communities in Farm Bill
In March, the House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. Now, the full House of Representatives is expected to consider this legislation as soon as next week. Make sure the rural health voice is heard and urge your member of Congress to support H.R. 7567.
This legislation would invest in rural hospital technical assistance, deploy broadband capacity, support rural economic and workforce development, and prioritize rural behavioral health. For more on rural health in the Farm Bill, please review NRHA's letter of support to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees in support of H.R. 7567. Please find a section-by-section summary of the House Farm Bill here. NRHA’s Farm Bill priorities can be found here.
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MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
The Louisiana Rural Health Association is proud to amplify the voices of our members to promote and enhance the quality of rural health in Louisiana. Visit the Members Only Hub to learn how LRHA can support you in sharing your story and advocating for the needs of your facility and community at the state and federal level.
National Rural Health Association Grassroots Advocacy
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has a number of resources available to help you actively and easily participate in national advocacy efforts. NRHA's three main advocacy priority areas include: 1) addressing rural declining life expectancy and rural equity, 2) reducing rural health care workforce shortages and 3) investing in a strong rural safety net. Visit their Advocacy page to view advocacy guides, policy "leave behinds" documents, and current campaigns that you can support today!
CMS PROPOSED RULES COMMENTS
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OTHER LRHA ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES
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COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES
LRHA is proud to participate and represent rural interests and needs on the following committees and task forces:
- Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force (HCR 44 - HCR 100 - HCR 87 - HCR 55)
- Louisiana Alzheimer's Coalition
- Louisiana Department of Health Review, Advise, and Inform Board
- Protecting Medicaid Coverage Roundtable
- Provider-to-Provider Consultation Line Advisory Board
- Whole Health Louisiana Steering Committee
- National Rural Health Association Government Affairs
Committee
- Louisiana Chronic Disease Collective
- Pennington Biomedical Greaux Healthy Advisory Committee
- Louisiana Rural Health Transformation Taskforce
- National Association of Rural Health Clinics Board of Directors