Nomination Process

The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services uses a rolling nomination process for selecting new members. Nominations are accepted throughout the year. The nominations will be reviewed by a team of health and human service experts within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and then forwarded to the Secretary for final consideration. The Secretary has final authority on the selection of all nominees.

Health nominees should possess and will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Understanding of Medicare and Medicaid policy and how that affects rural communities and rural health care delivery systems
  • Understanding of the legislative and regulatory policy environments
  • Familiarity with rural health issues such as workforce recruitment and retention
  • Experience working on rural health policy issues at the local, state and regional level
  • A thorough understanding of how the national policy arena operates

Human service nominees should possess and will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Understanding of current welfare regulations and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program
  • Experience working with human service issues on a regional, statewide or national basis
  • Understanding of the legislative underpinnings of human service programs within the Administration on Children and Families and the Administration on Aging
  • Experience working on rural health policy issues at the local, state and regional level
  • A thorough understanding of how the national policy arena operates

During the course of their terms, Committee members are expected to attend all meetings. While the Committee is staffed by the Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP), members are also expected to contribute their time and expertise on Committee projects. This includes the development of reports and recommendations on select rural issues as well as agenda setting, selection of site visit locations and review of official correspondence.

The Committee represents a wide range of health and human service professionals, researchers and administrators who work in rural areas. The Department will give close attention to equitable geographic distribution and to minority and female representation.

Nominations for health care positions on the Committee should be submitted to the Office of Rural Health Policy. Nomination packages should include a cover letter detailing how the nominee meets the criteria listed above along with a resume of the nominee. Nominations that demonstrate a broad base of support are encouraged. While individual nominations will be reviewed, it is recommended that those interested in serving on the Committee work with national organizations, their employers and elected officials on a nomination package.

Please send submissions to:

NAC Nominations
c/o  Sahira Rafiullah (srafiullah@hrsa.gov)
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
Health Resources and Services Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
17W59D
Rockville, MD 20857

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