CMS recognizes that more than 61 million Americans live in rural areas, including rural, tribal, borders and geographically isolated territories. These Americans face several unique challenges in health care which can differ considerably between the different types of rural areas across the country. Rural residents tend to be older and healthy than their urban counterparts, and rural communities are often faced with challenges with access to care, financial viability and the important link between health care and economic development.
CMS framework to advance health care in rural, tribal and geographically isolated communities (PDF)
The CMS recognizes the need to apply an informed geographical objective of the community to its policies’ development processes, program design and strategic planning to promote health equity and ensure that residents in rural, tribal and geographically isolated communities are able to meet their health and health needs. Participants in the listening session from across the country and federal partners highlighted the importance of the commitment of people with lived experience to receive or support the provision of health care services in rural areas to better understand their needs and impacts of CMS programs and policies in these areas. Thus, the CMS seeks to ensure the prospects of the members of rural, tribal and geographically isolated communities – and those which serve these communities – are reflected in discussions and political considerations while the CMS works to improve the quality of health care, results and access. This framework describes 6 priority areas for the way the CMS will constantly concentrate these efforts.
Rural Health Council
In 2016, CMS created the Rural Health Council to approach three strategic aspects:
- Improve access to care for Americans living in rural areas;
- Support the unique economy of health care provision in rural America; And
- Ensure that the health care innovation program corresponds to rural health care markets.
With the support of the rural health council, CMS led the efforts to initiate stakeholders, in particular those serving the rural areas, in the three areas of interest. In October 2016, the Council hosted the first summit of rural health solutions to encourage dialogue on how CMS policies and programs affect rural communities. CMS continues to hire stakeholders thanks to its open rural health doors forums, which deal with problems affecting rural health clinics, critical access hospitals and federal skilled health centers. CMS also has rural health coordinators in each regional office that provide technical, political and operational assistance on rural health problems
Rural maternal health care
A key objective of the rural health strategy of the CMS is to take advantage of partnerships with stakeholders nationwide, as well as on regional, state and local levels. An element of the accomplishment is to work in close collaboration with partners and stakeholders to raise awareness of maternal health and access to care in rural communities. This section contains resources related to improving maternal health results in rural communities.
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Rural health resources
Find resources to help you improve access to health care for rural populations.
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Reports and publications
Find data related to improving access to health care, quality and results for rural populations.
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Stay connected
Register for opportunities and contact our CMS rural health coordinators. To receive the latest news on rural health care policy and programs, register For the rural health list.