This week, National Rural Health Day is celebrated across the country, highlighting the “Power of Rural,” the people, providers, and partnerships working to ensure that rural communities have access to quality and sustainable health care.
Established by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health in 2011, Rural Health Day recognizes both the strengths of rural America and the unique health care challenges these communities face.
Rural communities succeed on long-standing connections, deep civic engagement, and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Yet many residents also confront persistent disparities, including transportation barriers, limited health care providers, and aging populations with increasingly complex needs. Rural hospitals, often the sole providers in their regions and major economic anchors, face mounting financial pressures that put essential services at risk. Read more about challenges to rural hospitals here. Rural Health Day serves as a national call to share solutions and drive investment in a healthier future.
Maryland’s State Office of Rural Health plays a central role in strengthening health care access and supporting rural-serving organizations across the state. The Office coordinates statewide rural health initiatives and provides technical assistance to public entities seeking state and federal resources.
Maryland designates 18 of 24 jurisdictions as rural, including:
Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester.
According to the Maryland State Office of Rural Health, roughly 25 percent of Marylanders live in rural communities. The federal definition differs from the state designation and determines eligibility for a range of rural health grants. Following 2025 updates to federal rural data files, more areas of Maryland now qualify as “federally rural” than ever before, opening new pathways for counties and providers to pursue HRSA-supported funding and programs.
Local governments are essential partners in safeguarding rural health. Counties support EMS, public health, behavioral health, and hospital systems that are increasingly strained by workforce shortages and funding gaps. National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to spotlight these local efforts, connect statewide partners, and ensure rural communities have the tools they need to thrive.
County leaders and rural-serving organizations can explore federal eligibility using the HRSA Rural Health Grants Analyzer, a valuable tool to identify funding opportunities and plan future initiatives.
Click here to learn more about the MD State Office of Rural Health.
