North Dakota Rural Health Clinic Network Attend Policy Summit

Jun 25, 2026

This summer staff and members from the Center for Rural Health's (CRH) North Dakota Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Network attended the 2026 National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., held on June 10-11. During the two-day event, Jody Ward, CRH grant program director, and Anna Walter, CRH project coordinator, along with Stephanie Everett, CEO, and Janel Borud, clinic director, from Mountrail County Health Center, had the opportunity to visit with other RHCs across the country to discuss rural healthcare policy.

June 11 was Hill Day, which allowed the group to meet with two of North Dakota's congressional delegations. They visited with representatives from Senator John Hoeven's, Senator Kevin Cramer's, and Representative Julie Fedorchak's offices. During these meetings they were able to share the value healthcare has in North Dakota and the needs of rural communities across the state.

"It was a great opportunity to be able to meet with the congressional offices," said Ward, "and we were pleased Steph and Janel could share their direct experience with their RHC. The collaboration between North Dakota RHCs and CRH is incredibly valuable."

Policy Summit

The NARHC Policy Summit is an opportunity for those working with RHCs to share concerns and ideas with counterparts across the country. More than 60 RHC advocates from across the country attended the Policy Summit, and in a single day, attendees met with more than 100 Congressional offices, demonstrating the collective strength and impact of the RHC community.

"It is important that we are able to bring leaders from North Dakota CAHs and RHCs to the Policy Summit," said Jacob Warren, director of CRH, "to hear what other leaders are doing and for them to be able to talk directly with North Dakota Congressional delegates. North Dakota's delegation wants to know how RHCs are serving our rural communities and what they need to be successful, and the Summit allows for the delegation to connect directly with healthcare leaders."

North Dakota RHC Network

The North Dakota RHC Network provides members with support for meeting Conditions for Certification, quality and performance improvement, and to improve communication and collaboration among healthcare providers to best serve the rural health organization and its communities. They do this through networking, education, and policy efforts.