Who is involved in the rural health policy process?
The formulation of health policy relies on input from various parties, each of whom contribute information and expertise needed to understand health care concerns of rural communities. The formal part of policymaking is conducted by the Executive and Legislative branches of the government, through the passage of legislation that impacts rural health. The Senate Rural Health Caucus and House Rural Health Care Coalition, which are informally organized, bipartisan membership organizations, focus attention and act on behalf of rural concerns. Federal agencies involved in rural health work to inform policymakers about the issues and needs of rural health communities and are also called upon to issue and enforce regulations and implement rural relevant legislation. Interest groups, such as membership organizations, advocate for the concerns of their members, typically through their Government Affairs sections. Interest groups, state offices of rural health, and researchers produce reports, g
