A strong national EMS program is vital to a strong rural health care system.  In 2004, the NRHA collaborated with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and the National Association of State EMS Directors to publish, "Rural/Frontier EMS Agenda for the Future."

NRHA advocates for full funding of rural EMS grant programs, and also for allowing necessary provider Critical Access Hospitals the ability to receive cost based reimbursement for EMS services they provide.

NRHA maintains a rural/frontier EMS issue group which explores relevant policy and regulatory positions for NRHA; seeks to foster new membership and participation from the EMS community; and provides input to NRHA in the development of the R/FEMS agenda for the future. Gary Wingrove is the chair of this group. He can be reached at: Wingrove.gary@mayo.edu