OPINION:
More than 60 million Americans live in rural communities like ours; yet accessing high-quality health care remains a persistent challenge. Patients must sometimes travel long distances to see specialists. Local providers manage heavy caseloads with limited resources. Administrative hurdles, aging infrastructure, and workforce shortages make delivering care even harder. Across Virginia’s Sixth District and much of rural America, hospitals and clinics are fighting to continue serving their neighbors with dedication and compassion.
Rural health care is fundamentally different from urban health care. Policies designed for large, urban hospitals often fail when applied in rural settings, where facilities cover vast geographic regions and providers take on multiple roles, from family doctor to emergency responder. A rural hospital might be the only source of care within 50 miles. A single nurse practitioner may serve hundreds of patients who have no other options. For that reason, federal policy must recognize that rural health care operates on different terms, and it must provide the flexibility to meet communities where they are.
A major step forward came earlier this year with the allocation of $50 billion for the Rural Health Transformation Program. This historic investment will help rural hospitals and clinics modernize facilities, recruit and train staff, expand access to specialized services, and adopt new technologies. These resources are designed to let communities shape solutions that reflect local realities. What works in Roanoke may look very different from what works in Page County, and that’s the point. By giving local providers room to innovate, rural communities can design systems that deliver care efficiently and effectively.
Expanding access to pharmacy-based care is another critical component of rural health. Pharmacies are often the most accessible health care providers in small towns, yet reimbursement rules and federal red tape limit their ability to serve patients fully. The bipartisan Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, which I have cosponsored along with Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., would fix that by allowing pharmacists to provide essential clinical services to seniors and those in underserved areas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists prevented an estimated one million deaths and eight million hospitalizations, saving more than $450 billion in health care costs. In many rural communities, they are the trusted professionals who know their patients by name. I am proud to support this important bill, which will preserve access to those services that are vital to the health and stability of small towns across America.
Telehealth has also become a lifeline for rural residents. During the pandemic, it allowed patients to meet with specialists virtually, without driving hours for a single appointment, and it has since proven indispensable for managing chronic conditions, scheduling routine check-ups, and accessing mental health services. For seniors, veterans, and working families, telehealth provides continuity of care that would otherwise be out of reach. Congress should make pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities permanent to ensure that rural Americans continue to benefit from this transformative technology.
But even with expanded access and new tools, no health system can thrive without people. Across the Sixth District and beyond, hospitals and clinics struggle to recruit and retain doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. The issue extends beyond pay; it’s also about professional support, training pipelines, and quality of life. Ideas such as rural residency tracks or partnerships with local colleges and universities can make practicing in these areas more feasible and fulfilling. Building a strong rural health workforce is not just about filling jobs; it’s about securing the long-term stability of care for future generations.
Flexibility and innovation remain at the heart of sustainable rural health care. Solutions like the Rural Health Transformation Program succeed precisely because they empower local problem-solving. A community in the Shenandoah Valley might use funding to upgrade diagnostic equipment, while another in the Alleghany Highlands might focus on mobile health units or mental health integration. When local leaders and providers can design systems around community needs, outcomes improve, costs drop, and patients gain confidence in the care they receive.
At its core, rural health care is about access. Every American, no matter their zip code, deserves the peace of mind that health care will be available when it’s needed. That means cutting unnecessary red tape, supporting the workforce, investing in telehealth and technology, and allowing communities to build on their strengths rather than conform to urban models that don’t fit their realities.
Rural Americans should never have to settle for second-class care because of where they live. With thoughtful policy, smart investment, and bipartisan cooperation, we can ensure that every community, large or small, has the resources it needs to thrive. Strengthening rural health care isn’t just about fixing what’s broken today. It’s about laying the foundation for healthier, more resilient communities tomorrow.
Rural health care is, at its heart, an investment in the future of rural America.
• Rep. Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.
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