Representative Kristi Noem announced that the 2018 Farm Bill, also known as the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, was introduced in the U.S. House on April 12. The bill, which addresses a wide variety of agricultural and rural initiatives, includes important funding for health care facilities.
The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations recently put the final touches on the annual Federal Issues Brief (FIB), which outlines advocacy priorities on the federal and state levels. Included in the FIB was support for the Farm Bill funding for community development, telehealth grants, resources for rural opioid treatment programs and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps).
The Farm Bill can play an important role in financing improvements and expansion of broadband. Additional information and analyses will be provided on the bill on a later date. Click here for a brief overview and fact sheet.
