<Date>
The Hon. John/Jane Doe
U.S. House of Representatives/Senate
<Address>
<City/State/Zip Code>
Dear Rep./Sen. Doe:
On November 19, 2015, [RURAL HEALTH CLINIC] will join the National Organization of State
Offices of Rural Health, all 50 State Offices of Rural Health and rural health advocates throughout the
nation in celebrating National Rural Health Day. This annual celebration provides a unique opportunity to
“Celebrate the Power of Rural” by showcasing the good works of Michigan’s 9,883,360 and America’s
59.5 million rural citizens.
As someone who represents rural citizens of Michigan in Congress, you are already well aware of
the “Power of Rural” in our Michigan Our rural communities are wonderful places to live, work, and
visit; they are places where neighbors know each other, listen to each other, respect each other and work
together to benefit the greater good. These communities are some of the best places to start a business and
test your “entrepreneurial spirit.”
In terms of health care, rural communities offer healthcare providers tremendous opportunities to
deliver innovative, resourceful models of quality care. The main emphasis of rural health care has always
been on providing affordable, holistic, primary care – a model for the rest of the country to follow as
America transitions to a population-, wellness/prevention-based system of health care. Rural Health
Clinics (RHCs) play a unique role in this regard by giving physician assistants, certified nurse midwives,
and nurse practitioners the unique opportunity to establish their own practices and address the basic
primary care needs of rural residents.
Rural communities also face unique healthcare needs; today more than ever, they must address a
lack of providers, the needs of an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions,
and larger percentages of un- and underinsured citizens. Basic access to primary care is difficult to
maintain without public intervention and support in many of these communities; the percentage of
population insured by Medicaid and Medicare is disproportionately high, while the number of people
covered with adequate employer based health insurance is low. And while the Affordable Care Act may
make health care more affordable for rural Americans, it won’t necessarily make it more accessible – a
lack of public transportation, fragile infrastructures and unique geographic also must be overcome in
order to ensure that RHC;s all rural safety net providers can adequately meet the basic healthcare needs of
their residents. This can’t be done through a “one size fits all” approach – programs and policies must be
flexible enough to enable states and communities to identify and address the unique needs of their rural
residents.
Unfortunately funding cuts being considered and/or implemented to federal health programs
threaten to jeopardize the work being performed by RHCs and other rural safety net providers. For that
reason, we believe it is imperative for Congress and the President to reconsider these cuts and continue
funding rural health programs at levels that allow RHCs to meet the basic primary care needs of
America’s 59.5 rural citizens– and we strongly urge you to support these programs in Michigan.
Events being held in Michigan and nationwide the week leading up to November 19 will provide
a unique opportunity to showcase rural America while bringing to light some of these unique healthcare
challenges. [NOTE: This is where RHCs could share any National Rural Health Day celebration
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
44648 Mound Road, #114 | Sterling Heights, MI 48314-1322
Phone: 586-739-9940 | Fax: 586-739-9941 | Email: teryle@nosorh.org
www.nosorh.org
plans.] It is our sincere hope that you, too, will be able to celebrate National Rural Health Day on
November 19 [NOTE: This is where you could possibly invite the Representative/Senator to join
your celebration. Even if you don’t have something planned, you could invite the
Representative/Senator to tour that day!]. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to
know more about our celebration plans and/or if we can provide you additional rural health-specific
information.
Sincerely,