The Office of Rural Health Policy helps shape rural health policy in a variety of ways. The Office advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services on major issues such as the effects of Medicare and Medicaid on rural citizens' access to health care. Since its inception, ORHP staff have worked with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the development and review of Medicare and Medicaid regulations. The Office also has established working relationships with other federal agencies in the development of policy and regulatory decisions.

• More on Policy Development
• See the ORHP Strategic Plan 2005-2010
• Rural Health Clinics Technical Assistance Conference Call Series

The National Advisory Committee (NAC) on Rural Health and Human Services advises the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on the provision and financing of health care services in rural areas. The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) provides staff support to the Committee.

The Rural Health Research Center (RHRC) programs' objective is to increase the amount of high quality, policy relevant, rural health services research and policy analysis being conducted.

The mission of the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) is to facilitate and coordinate HRSA's programmatic interaction with organizations that represent units of State and local government.