Advocacy

MRHA is pleased to serve as the Voice of Rural Health! We are committed to bringing forward a rural perspective to policy conversation that include the health, health care and well-being of rural Minnesotans. We work with local, state and federal partners to bring this voice forward.

Policy Priorities

• Workforce
• Access
• Funding
• Innovation
• Regulation

In staying true to our mission, we believe a rural health system that best serves the people who live in, work in, learn in, and visit rural Minnesota should:

• Focus on prevention, primary care, chronic disease management and medical services to improve health.
• Provide access to health services within a reasonable distance and time of travel.
• Encourage collaborative local and regional solutions for patient-centered delivery of service.
• Place an emphasis on quality and patient safety.
• Promote operational efficiencies that contain cost and provide value to the patient.
• Embrace the use of technology to expand access and involve patients in their care.
• Fairly reimburse for services to ensure providers have the resources they need to sustain and thrive.
• Develop a standardized system to assess Social Determinants of Health and refer vulnerable rural residents to resources designed to reduce preventable health conditions and health care utilization.

We continually monitor legislative activity at the local, state and federal levels. We gather input from our members and partner organizations to keep our priorities in line with the rural health environment.

2024 Legislative Priorities

Since 1994, the mission of Minnesota Rural Health Association (MRHA) has been to strengthen the health, health care and well-being of rural Minnesotans through leadership, advocacy, education, and collaboration. Our members include rural hospitals, clinics, behavioral health providers, transportation providers, and others who are on the frontlines of delivering the care and services needed to address the health needs that rural communities face.

Rural Health Workforce Development

80% of Minnesota’s rural counties are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas for primary care, dental health and mental and behavioral health. Providers are reporting staff shortages across the entire spectrum of employment, from entry level to highly credentialed medical providers. MRHA supports innovative programs focused on building on the pipeline of individuals entering healthcare fields, retaining and upskilling the current workforce, and providing a safe environment for rural providers.

System Inadequacies Leading to Boarding

Patients at Minnesota hospitals are facing gridlock when it comes to being discharged. Patients are stuck in hospitals for days, even months, waiting for transfer to other healthcare facilities more appropriate for the cares needed such as nursing homes, rehab units, mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities, and residential living facilities. MRHA supports policy reforms aimed at streamlining the discharge process and the intake processes at sub-acute care to speed the process and take the patient out of the middle.

Sustainability of Rural Medical Transportation

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) providers face critical challenges to delivering service across rural Minnesota. Severe reimbursement shortfalls, workforce shortages, and increasing operating costs are forcing communities to make difficult decisions. MRHA supports emergency funding to rural EMS providers to keep services operating along with increased Medicaid reimbursement that more closely aligns with the cost of transportation.

Increased Provider Reimbursement Rates

Rural healthcare provides services to higher proportions of people who rely on Medicare and Medicaid for health insurance. Reimbursement rates from government payers are significantly lower than the cost to deliver the services. Reimbursement below cost has led to the discontinuation of service and the closure of rural health facilities causing instability in the rural healthcare infrastructure. MRHA supports policies that increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for rural providers.

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