We must deliver quality, affordable health care for rural families

OPINION:

From serving Ohioans at the state level to doing so in the U.S. Senate, my mission has been simple: bring down costs and make life more affordable for working families. Health care is one of the biggest drivers of rising household expenses. When we reduce health care costs and expand access especially in rural communities families can spend less time worrying about bills and more time building healthy, stable lives.

I grew up in rural northwest Ohio, where a doctor’s appointment could mean a long drive and a missed day of work. I understand the challenges families face when they live miles from the nearest provider. Too often, rural families are forced to choose between paying expensive out-of-network costs or traveling to urban centers just to receive in-network care.

As Ohio’s lieutenant governor, I worked alongside Gov. Mike DeWine to establish school-based health centers located directly within rural schools. These centers provide physicals, immunizations, mental health services, vision and dental care and help students manage chronic conditions all where these children live and learn. The results have been clear: healthier students, fewer missed school days and peace of mind for parents.

Building on that success, I fought to include the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. This investment strengthens school-based health centers and protects rural hospitals that serve as lifelines for communities across Ohio and the country. Rural hospitals are often the largest employer in town and the only source of emergency care. This funding gives them the stability they need to continue delivering high-quality care close to home.

Lowering costs also means reforming how Americans access everyday medications. In my first year in the Senate, my SMART OTC Act was signed into law. It modernizes the FDA’s process to safely dispense proven prescription drugs over the counter, lowering costs for families at the pharmacy counter. Every $1 spent on over-the-counter medicine saves the health system more than $7 and saves families billions overall.

My work remains focused on lowering the cost of living and expanding opportunity for working families. The Rural Health Transformation Fund and the SMART OTC Act are meaningful steps toward ensuring that affordable, accessible health care is available to every American no matter their ZIP code.

• Sen. Jon Husted served Ohioans at the state level, most recently as lieutenant governor, until he was appointed to the U.S. Senate in January 2025. During his first year in office, three of Husted’s bills centered on making life more affordable for Ohioans were signed into law. He serves on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and the Special Committee on Aging. He considers his most important roles to be husband to his wife, Tina, father of three, and grandfather.