Access to affordable, quality health care is an issue that impacts all of us. Farmers and ranchers, small business owners, the elderly and young folks alike struggle with the high costs of health insurance, preventative care and treatment for disease. The far-reaching effect of our broken health care system is pushing the Center for Rural Affairs to reach out to new allies.

In recent months Center staff traveled across the Midwest and Great Plains meeting with individuals and organizations about rural health care reform. In our travels and at home in Nebraska, we have found overwhelming support of our work on health care. Often this support comes from folks who were previously unaware of the Center but are now strong supporters, engaged not only in the Center’s work on rural health but also in our renewable energy, small business development and sustainable agriculture work.

On a trip to Wisconsin, Center staff visited the Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine, part of the University of Wisconsin’s medical school working to graduate doctors who go on to practice medicine in rural areas. On the same trip we met with Organic Valley, an organic dairy cooperative with farmer members throughout the nation. We reached out to the public policy department at Avera Hospitals, the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department and many others.

These groups are speaking out on rural health care and urging legislators to address the unique health care needs of rural people. Health care reform is happening today, and rural people must share their concerns to ensure that reform addresses the health care needs of rural America.

You can join our effort by writing to your senators today to tell them about the health care concerns in your rural community. You can find the address of your senator, additional talking points, or write online at www.cfra.org/09/health-reform.

Contact: Virginia Wolking, virginiaw@cfra.org or 402.687.2103 x 1017 for more information or to let us know you took action.