Office of Rural Health Policy

The National Center for Rural Health Works is currently funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP), in the United States Department of Health and Human Services.   Jerry Coopey serves as project manager and is the liaison between the ORHP and the center.   Mr. Coopey is a member of the Hospital-State team in the ORHP, with assignment as the Midwest Co-Regional Liaison.   In that position, Mr. Coopey is the project officer for FLEX, SORH, and SHIP grant programs.   Mr. Coopey’s primary focus areas are in the Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet) liaison, Access to Capital, Rural Health and Economic Development, safety-net collaboration, and hospital performance improvement.

ORHP promotes better health care service in rural America.   Established in August 1987 by the Administration, the Office was subsequently authorized by Congress in December 1987 and located in the Health Resources and Services Administration.   Congress charged the Office with informing and advising the Department of Health and Human Services on matters affecting rural hospitals, and health care, coordinating activities within the department that relate to rural health care, and maintaining a national information clearinghouse.   The office works both within government at federal, state and local levels, and with the private sector as well as with associations, foundations, providers and community leaders to seek solutions to rural health care problems.