East Lansing, MI—The Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) has announced the release of the Rural Health Equity Plan (RHEP), a new statewide report aimed at addressing disparities and improving access to essential services in Michigan’s rural communities. The report serves as a rural-focused supplement to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Social Determinants of Health Strategy and includes actionable recommendations rooted in lived experience, community data, and stakeholder collaboration.
Rural Michigan communities often face unique challenges when it comes to accessing health and social services. Barriers such as limited transportation, broadband connectivity, housing availability, and workforce shortages can all contribute to inequities in care and health outcomes. The RHEP identifies these and other systemic challenges, while providing a clear roadmap to improve food security, housing stability, and access to health-related services across rural regions.
MCRH led this work in partnership with the MDHHS Policy & Planning Office and convened a statewide Rural Health Equity Plan Advisory Group comprised of rural health leaders, community advocates, and individuals with lived experience. The plan reflects input gathered through listening sessions, surveys, and focus groups held across rural Michigan.
“This report and its recommendations serve as a call to action for advancing health equity and improving outcomes in our rural communities,” said MCRH Executive Director John Barnas. “We are proud to have collaborated with diverse rural partners to ensure the needs of rural Michiganders are at the core of this work.”
Laura Stoddard, MCRH Social Drivers of Health Manager and lead for the Rural Health Equity Plan, noted, “By connecting directly with those who live and work in rural Michigan, we gained critical insight into the barriers communities face every day. It was important that this work be grounded in rural voices and experiences. We’re proud to share a report that reflects those realities and excited to see it drive meaningful, lasting change.”
Key areas of focus in the Rural Health Equity Plan include:
- Strengthening rural food and housing systems
- Reducing enrollment barriers to state assistance programs
- Supporting Medicaid waivers that fund non-clinical services
- Expanding sustainable funding for CHWs and community paramedics
- Promoting aging in place and rural workforce support
To learn more about ongoing efforts to implement the recommendations, please contact Laura Stoddard, Social Drivers of Health Manager, at laura.mispelon@affiliate.msu.edu.
Click here to access the full Rural Health Equity Plan