Therefore the Center for Rural Affairs has launched a Rural Health Care Reform Initiative. The Center has initiated an online petition to stand up for health care reform that works for everyone -- including rural people, family farmers and small business owners.  The signatures and comments collected from the petition will be shared with the next administration early in 2009.

"Rural people are among the most ill-served by the current health care system. Issues of access, affordability, prevention and how to deal with chronic diseases are issues that fall disproportionately on rural people and rural communities. Reforming the health care system is also vital for the long-term economic and community vitality of rural areas," said Jon Bailey, Director of the Rural Research and Analysis Program at the Center for Rural Affairs.

As part of the initiative, the Center is also interested in hearing how health care and health insurance issues affect rural families and rural businesses. These experiences will help the Center better understand the issues rural people are facing and allow the Center to explain the issues to those in Washington. Anyone wishing to share their experiences may do by sending them to Kim Preston at kimp@cfra.org or at the Center for Rural Affairs, P.O. Box 136, Lyons, NE 68038, or online at http://www.cfra.org/contact. Participants will remain anonymous, and your name will not be used in any way.  

"Rural people have much to offer to the health care debate, and much to add to reform proposals. We are hoping our initiative gets rural people involved in a debate that will affect the future of all of us and our communities," added Bailey.  
 
To join and sign the petition visit: http://www.cfra.org/08/health 

More about health care reform and rural America can be found at:
http://www.cfra.org/policy/health-care