ASTHO recently submitted comments on the formation of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee for designations regarding underserviced populations. These designations include the Medically Underserved Area/ Population (MUA/P) designations and Health Professions Shortage Areas (HPSA). ASTHO answered the call for comments because of its work in support of its members’ efforts to provide access to quality care in the United States, the U.S. territories, Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia.

ASTHO’s main recommendation was that it should have some representation on the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. Additionally, we reiterated our support for PCOs and state offices of rural health on the Committee, the representation of front-line persons who administer health services and live in underserved areas, and recognition of the importance of these designations as objective measures of outstanding healthcare need for a given area. All of these recommendations took into account ASTHO’s position to represent and provide support to the state public health infrastructure.