Sinema Improving Access to Care in Rural Arizona

Oct 24, 2023

Senator cosponsored bipartisan legislation that updates the rural health clinics program, expanding access to care in Arizona

WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act – bipartisan legislation updating the rural health clinics program to meet the growing and complex health care needs of rural Arizona communities.

“We’re updating the rural health clinics program so Arizonans have more choices and better access to affordable care,” said Sinema.

The Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act updates the rural health clinics program by expanding the use of nurse practitioners and physician assistants and improving access to lab and mental health services, as well as telehealth options. This bipartisan legislation makes necessary updates to address the growing and complex health care needs for Arizonans in rural parts, who continually experience a shortage of heath care professionals and affordable high-quality care choices.

Sinema’s legislation would support rural health clinics in Arizona by expanding care workforce, increasing lab access, updating location requirements – such as allowing these Arizona rural health clinics to be located in a non-urban area with less than 50,000 people – and increasing access to mental health.