Health Care & Social Services

Counties are on the front lines of providing health and social services. In rural areas, unique challenges exist in providing these services to county residents across large geographic areas with arduous terrain.

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It is the responsibility of counties to meet the needs of their residents and provide appropriate health and social services. The recruitment and retention of health care providers in rural counties can be difficult. Rural areas are unable to utilize economies of scale to decrease costs, and depressed economic conditions lead to large publicly-funded populations with low provider reimbursement rates. RCRC works with the State and Federal government to develop strategies to ensure that critically underserved California residents have access health care including behavioral and public health services.

Counties are on the front lines of providing health and social services. Counties must ensure that all federally-mandated human services programs (such as food stamps) are implemented. Rural county Health and Human Services (HHS) Departments are often understaffed and under-resourced. Additionally, many counties must provide services to populations that span a large geographical area with arduous terrain. RCRC works to educate lawmakers on these, and other unique challenges rural counties face in providing important services to county residents.

Counties also have a special role in ensuring that veterans are able to access the services they are entitled to through the service to our country. From ensuring that veterans are enrolled in appropriate programs, to providing the niche services through the County Veterans Services Officers, RCRC is committed to policies that give counties the greatest range of flexibility and authority in providing veterans the services they need.

Read more about RCRC’s health access priorities in our strategic plan.