Most of the experts have been of the belief that rural health is enjoying a very limited role in healthcare reform but at the same time the National Rural Health Association's annual meeting in Austin, Texas, came up with a couple of decisions which can bring hope for several people.

Rural Health Policy is considered to be a crucial part of HHS Health Resources and Services Administration and Tom Morris, Associate Administrator for rural health policy and head of the Office of Rural Health Policy, believes that the main source of hope would be the current administration which has put leadership in place that is giving rural health more attention than previously given.

In addition, he said, “HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius both understand how important rural health is and it's been “a treat” working with them on rural issues. Sebelius met with the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services in February and discussed issues of substance, the first time the committee has met with an HHS secretary since 1998”.

Dr. Mark McClellan is a former CMS administrator and currently Director of the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at the Brookings Institution and he has always been encouraging people concerned to get to the core components of such vehicles ahead of Medicare’s implementation.