The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”) convenes twice a year to examine pertinent issues that affect the health and well-being of rural Americans and to hear directly from rural stakeholders. Following each meeting, the Committee produces and sends policy briefs to the HHS Secretary with recommendations on policy or regulatory matters under the Secretary’s purview.
In addition to the policy briefs/reports, the Committee also provides its agendas, summaries, and secretarial correspondences from each meeting for the public’s viewing and dissemination.
2021 Meetings
October 25-27, 2021 - Online
Meeting Summary (PDF - 455 KB)
Rural Emergency Hospital (PDF - 391 KB)
2020 Meetings
July 30, 2020, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET - Online
Meeting Summary (PDF - 251 KB)
Read the Vision, Mission, and Values of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (PDF - 132 KB)
March 2-4, 2020 - Atlanta, GA
Agenda (PDF - 136 KB) | Meeting Summary (PDF - 190 KB) | Secretarial Correspondence (PDF - 114 KB)
Topics of Discussion:
Maternal and Obstetric Care Challenges in Rural America (PDF - 539 KB) | Policy Brief Webinar 
Rural HIV Prevention and Treatment Challenges (PDF - 655 MB) | Policy Brief Webinar
During its 87th meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, the Committee examined maternal health and obstetric care challenges in rural America and rural HIV prevention and treatment. The rural HIV subcommittee traveled to Anniston, Alabama to visit a Ryan White program funded community based organization providing HIV medical care, education and support across 14 counties in East Alabama. The maternal care subcommittee members traveled to Macon, Georgia and Mercer School of Medicine and heard from health and human service providers that serve throughout Georgia, and discussed the challenges and opportunities to improve maternal health in the state.
*Forthcoming
2019 Meetings
September 9-11, 2019 – Washington, DC
Agenda (PDF - 138 KB) | Meeting Summary (PDF - 361 KB)
April 3-5, 2019 – Sacramento, California
Agenda (PDF - 249 KB) | Meeting Summary (PDF - 316 KB) | Secretarial Correspondence (PDF - 57 KB)
Topics of Discussion:
- Examining Rural Cancer Prevention and Control Efforts (PDF - 498 KB) | Policy Brief Webinar
- Supportive Services and Caregiving for Older Rural Adults (PDF - 807 KB) | Policy Brief Webinar
For its 85th convening, the Committee examined cancer disparities and access to prevention for rural patients, and supportive services and caregiving for older rural Americans.
As part of the meeting, the Committee members conducted two site visits to rural communities. One subcommittee visited the Northern Valley Indian Health (NVIH) clinic in Willows, CA where challenges and opportunities to improve cancer care were discussed. Another subcommittee visited Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley, CA and met with local community organizations and stakeholders to discuss support services for older rural adults.
*Forthcoming
2018 Meetings
September 10-12, 2018 – Charlotte, North Carolina
Agenda (PDF - 155 KB) | Meeting Summary (PDF - 292 KB) | Secretarial Correspondence (PDF 1.47 MB)
Topics of Discussion:
- Addressing the Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (PDF - 534 KB) | Policy Brief Webinar
- Improving Oral Health Care Services in Rural America (PDF - 793 KB) | Policy Brief Webinar
During its 84th meeting in Charlotte, the Committee centered its discussions on addressing the burden of COPD in rural America and improving access to oral health care services in rural areas. To get a better understanding of both issues at the community level, members of the Committee visited a pulmonary rehabilitation center in Lenoir, North Carolina, and a dental clinic in Winnsboro, South Carolina. In both site visits, the Committee heard testimonials from patients, providers, and additional local stakeholders.
*Forthcoming
April 16-18, 2018 – Saratoga Springs, New York
Agenda (PDF - 151 KB) | Meeting Summary (PDF - 128 KB) | Secretarial Correspondence (PDF - 380 KB)
Topics of Discussion:
- Rural Health Insurance Market Challenges (PDF - 395 KB) | Policy Brief Webinar
- Exploring the Rural Context for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (PDF - 633 KB) | Policy Brief Webinar
The Committee convened for its 83rd meeting in Saratoga Springs and discussed challenges faced by rural health insurance markets. The Committee also explored the rural landscape for ACEs and considered the role that health and human services play in mitigating and preventing ACEs and their related outcomes. As part of the meeting, Committee members traveled to Glens Falls and Cobleskill to meet with health care providers, organizations, and networks as well as early childhood experts, head start educators, and an array of cross-systems professionals, which included local law enforcement and social services’ staff, respectively.
*Forthcoming
2017 Meetings
September 11-13, 2017 – Boise, Idaho
Agenda (PDF - 64 KB) | Meeting Summary (PDF - 104 KB) | Secretarial Correspondence (PDF - 368 KB)
Topics of Discussion:
- Understanding the Impact of Suicide in Rural America (PDF - 910 KB) | Webinar
- Modernizing Rural Health Clinic Provisions (PDF - 445 KB) | Webinar
At its 82nd meeting in Boise, the Committee examined the impact of suicide among rural communities as well as ways to modernize Rural Health Clinic (RHC) provisions. For their site visits, Committee members traveled to Emmett and Gooding to hear from local health and human service professionals on suicide prevention efforts across the State and learn about opportunities to modernize RHC provisions from RHC administrators and physicians, respectively.
April 10-12, 2017 – Washington, D.C.
Agenda (PDF - 61 KB) | Meeting Summary (PDF - 169 KB) | Secretarial Correspondence (PDF - 873 KB)
The Committee’s 81st meeting served as an opportunity to meet with HHS leadership, hear from specific Agencies and Offices that have an impact on health and human services in rural America, and initiate conversations on rural policy priorities. Moreover, the meeting served as an opportunity to revisit and review the Committee’s previous work and identify topic areas for future meetings.
2016 Meetings
September 14-16, 2016 – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Agenda (PDF - 72 KB) | Meeting Summary (PDF - 116 KB) | Secretarial Correspondence
Topic of Discussion:
- Social Determinants of Health (PDF - 383 KB) | Webinar
For its 80th meeting, the Committee convened in Albuquerque and focused their discussions on the rural dimensions of the social determinants of health. To get a better understanding of how rural communities are addressing the social determinants of health, members of the Committee visited three different rural sites: a Native Community Finance organization in Laguna, a small rural hospital in Santa Rosa, and a health center in Cuba.
April 18-20, 2016 – Beaufort, South Carolina
Agenda (PDF - 63 KB) | Meeting Minutes and Summary (PDF - 242 KB) | Secretarial Correspondence (PDF - 516 KB)
Topics of Discussion:
- Families in Crisis: The Human Service Implications of Rural Opioid Misuse (PDF - 948 KB)
- Alternative Models to Preserving Access to Emergency Care (PDF - 523 KB)
- Combined Policy Brief Webinar
During its 79th meeting in Beaufort, the Committee heard about the unique challenges related to opioid use disorder and the experience of families in crisis in rural areas. The Committee also examined alternatives to the provision of emergency care and ancillary services in light of the recent surge in rural hospital closures. To get a broader view of both issues, Committee members heard from residents, service providers, government officials, rural health services researchers, and hospital administrators.