LRHA ADVOCACY
2025 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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Urge Congress to Invest in Rural Health
Now, more than ever, it is critical that Congress fully funds the rural health safety net and protects core rural programs against the President's draft budget proposal. In FY 2026, NRHA is urging Members of Congress to support the following requests to improve rural health care access and affordability:
Please find the NRHA FY 2026 appropriations request table here. You can view NRHA’s letter to congressional leadership with the FY 2026 appropriations requests here. We encourage you to advocate on behalf of these requests by using the pre-drafted text . As always, feel free to add your personalized voice to the pre-drafted text to ensure your elected officials understand the unique needs of your community!
Urge Congress to Not Make Drastic Cuts to Medicaid
Congress is making progress towards a budget reconciliation package to advance the President's domestic agenda. Health-related proposals, particularly within the Medicaid program, are being discussed as potential offsets for other policies. Recently, both the House and Senate advanced their fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget resolutions, which call for trillions in spending cuts that could potentially impact Medicaid and other key health care programs.
As we know, Medicaid is not just a healthcare program-it plays a significant role in sustaining the viability of rural healthcare systems, including hospitals, clinics, and community health centers.
NRHA had developed resources regarding the rural implications of potential Medicaid cuts and how to best advocate to protect Medicaid.
For more information on the rural impact of proposed Medicaid cuts, view NRHA's one-pager fact sheet
For more information on how reforms of Medicaid spending can impact rural Louisiana, view the 2023 Rural Medicaid coverage by county, the 2024 Medicaid Enrollment Data, Percent of Total Population, by state or Congressional District, and KFF's Maps on State-by-State Estimates from Eliminating the Medicaid Expansion Federal Match Rates .
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
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: