Colorado Rural Health Center CEO Michelle Mills received three national awards recognizing her leadership in rural healthcare advocacy during the National Rural Health Association's annual policy institute in Washington D.C. The recognition highlights the critical role of advocacy in addressing healthcare disparities in rural communities across Colorado and the nation.
Mills was honored with awards for her service as 2025 President of the NRHA Board of Trustees, for exemplary commitment to advancing rural health leadership from the National Rural Health Foundation, and for her overall contributions to rural healthcare. The awards were presented during the NRHA Rural Health Policy Institute, an annual event that brings rural healthcare representatives together with federal legislators to discuss policy issues affecting rural communities.
"Michelle Mills deserves tremendous recognition for her time on the National Rural Health Foundation board of directors. Her impact on the organization and our progress over the last year cannot be understated," said NRHA CEO Alan Morgan MPA. "The National Rural Health Foundation and its supporters are grateful for Michelle's leadership during her time with us."
The recognition comes at a pivotal time for rural healthcare, which faces unique challenges including provider shortages, limited access to specialty care, and financial sustainability issues. Mills emphasized the importance of advocacy during this period of significant change in healthcare delivery. "Rural Healthcare is undergoing huge changes right now and the leadership of NRHA, and its partnership with CRHC and countless others nationally, is making sure that the voices of rural Americans are heard," said Mills.
During the policy institute, Mills led Colorado's delegation in five meetings with federal legislators, including Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Representatives Lauren Boebert, Brittany Pettersen, and Kevin Hurd. These meetings provide crucial opportunities for rural healthcare advocates to directly influence policy decisions that affect millions of Americans living in rural areas.
The Colorado delegation included a diverse team of rural health advocates representing various organizations across the state. The team included Kelly Erb Zager, Director of Policy and Advocacy at CRHC, along with representatives from Melissa Memorial Hospital, Rio Grande Hospital, Lincoln Health Community Hospital, Southwest Health System, Colorado School of Public Health, LOR Foundation, Ten Mile Enterprises, LLC, and Provider One Solutions.
This recognition underscores the importance of sustained advocacy efforts in addressing rural healthcare disparities. The National Rural Health Association, as described on their website at https://www.ruralhealth.us, is a national nonprofit membership organization that brings together thousands of members across the United States to provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research.
The Colorado Rural Health Center, which can be found at https://www.coruralhealth.org, serves dual roles as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health and the State Rural Health Association. Established in 1991, the organization works to enhance healthcare services in rural communities by providing information, education, and tools to address rural health issues.
Mills' recognition reflects the growing national attention on rural healthcare challenges and the importance of effective leadership in navigating complex policy environments. As rural communities continue to face healthcare access issues, the work of organizations like CRHC and NRHA becomes increasingly vital to ensuring equitable healthcare delivery across all geographic regions.
The awards ceremony and policy meetings occurred during a critical period for rural healthcare policy development, with ongoing discussions about telehealth expansion, rural hospital sustainability, and workforce development programs. The direct engagement between rural healthcare advocates and federal legislators during events like the NRHA Policy Institute helps shape policies that directly impact healthcare delivery in underserved communities.
