releases: http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=2997
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=2997 | Sen. Franken Kicks Off Initiative to Make Rural Health Care a Top Priority | 2014-12-11 | 2014 | 2014-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Al Franken | F000457 | franken.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), the new Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Rural Health Caucus, has kicked off a new initiative to identify the top health care needs of patients and providers in rural Minnesota and to find innovative ways to ensure top-quality care in rural communities. Last week, Sen Franken met with top Minnesota rural health policy experts at the University of Minnesota to begin to identify the unique issues facing rural communities, and to help ensure access to quality health care for rural residents. The meeting was the first in a series that he and his staff will hold in communities around the state. "Patients and health providers in rural America have very different needs than their urban counterparts," said Sen. Franken. "As the new Co-chair of the Rural Health Caucus, I will be meeting with health leaders across rural Minnesota in the coming weeks and months as part of my effort to make rural health care a top priority when the new Congress convenes next month." Starting in January, Sen. Franken's office will begin a "Rural Health Tour" by holding similar discussions in communities across the state. Earlier this year, Sen. Franken introduced the bipartisan Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act (R-HoPE) to support the efforts of rural health care delivery systems to provide innovative, sustainable health care solutions for patients in rural America. Specifically, the legislation would help provide access to hospitals, doctors, and ambulance services in rural areas. In 2013, Sen. Franken introduced the Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act to push the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make better use of its resources to ensure better access to health care for rural veterans. The measure included the use of non-VA health care, something that was part of the VA reform bill passed earlier this year. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |