The Rural Health Advisory Commission is a governor-appointed commission consisting of thirteen members as follows: (1) the Director of Public Health of the Division of Public Health or his or her designee and one other representative of the Department of Health and Human Services; and (2) eleven members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature. These 11 members include one representative of each medical school located in the state involved in training family physicians, one physician in family practice residency training, one rural physician, one rural consumer representative, one rural hospital administrator, one rural nursing home administrator, one rural nurse, one rural physician assistant, one rural mental health practitioner or psychologist licensed under the requirements of section 38-3114 or the equivalent thereof, and one rural dentist. (NE Revised Statutes Section 71-5654)
Rural Areas (NE Revised Statutes Section 71-5653)
Nebraska Counties with Population under 15,000
What is our purpose?The purpose of the commission, according to statute, is to advise the Department of Health and Human Services – Division of Public Health, the Legislature, the Governor, the University of Nebraska, and the citizens of Nebraska regarding all aspects of rural health care and to advise the Office of Rural Health regarding the administration of the Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act. (NE Revised Statutes Section 71-5655)
What are the specific duties of the Rural Health Advisory Commission?
By statutory authority the commission has the following powers and duties:
- Advise the Department of Health and Human Service – Public Health Division (department) regarding the development and implementation of a state rural health policy;
- Advise the department and other appropriate parties in all matters relating to rural health care;
- Serve as an advocate for rural Nebraska in health care issues;
- Maintain liaison with all agencies, groups, and organizations concerned with rural health care in order to facilitate integration of efforts and commonality of goals;
- Identify problems in the delivery of health care in rural Nebraska, in the education and training of health care providers in rural Nebraska, in the regulation of health care providers and institutions in rural Nebraska, and in any other matters relating to rural health care; identify problems in the delivery of health care in rural Nebraska, in the education and training of health care providers in rural Nebraska, in the regulation of health care providers and institutions in rural Nebraska, and in any other matters relating to rural health care;
- Prepare recommendations to the appropriate bodies to alleviate the problems identified;
- Advise the department regarding the Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act;
- Designate health profession shortage areas in Nebraska; and
- Select recipients of financial incentives available under the act. (NE Revised Statutes Section 71-5659).
Documents
Meeting Minutes