Senators Tina Smith of Minnesota and Mike Rounds of South Dakota have introduced the Rural Health Liaison Act. It calls for creating a liaison within the USDA to work with the Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies on rural health issues. Minnesota Land Stewardship Project Policy Organizer Paul Sobocinski says it’s a positive first step in battling the rural health care crisis with more yet to be done.
He says in the past Senator Smith was instrumental in putting forward Minn Care while she was Lieutenant Governor. Sobocinski says components of that could be used by this liaison to help address the rural health care crisis.
The Rural Health Liaison Act also calls for improving health care delivery in rural areas. Sobocinski says that would be positive.
The Senators say the Rural Health Liaison called for in the legislation would better leverage existing resources and be able to develop integrated responses for the health care needs of farmers and ranchers and their communities.
