The Rural Health and Primary Care programs are housed in the Bureau of Policy and Workforce Services in the Deputy Director’s Office at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) and seeks to address health care issues that affect Iowa’s rural and local communities. This work includes health care infrastructure planning and development, systems building and addressing barriers that impact access to quality health care. The Rural Health and Primary Care programs promote access to quality health care for all Iowans.
The State Office of Rural Health (SORH) Program helps identify and resolve issues to strengthen rural health infrastructure. To improve the quality, availability and accessibility of health care for rural Iowans and to create health care solutions, the Iowa State Office of Rural Health:
- Provides rural health advocacy and outreach
- Coordinates efforts for rural health activities to reduce duplication
- Collects and disseminates data and information on resources for rural communities
- Provides consultation to rural Iowa communities and health care providers regarding Federal, State, and rural health program participation
The Primary Care Program works to improve access to services for underserved populations, especially those who remain at increased risk of illness and premature death. The Primary Care Program supports and enhances health systems programming to optimize effectiveness and eliminate health disparities.
For a summary of Iowa HHS rural health programs, view the Rural Health Report.