Cochran-McClain Named as National Rural Health Association Vice President of Government Affairs and Policy
Today, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) announced that Caroline Cochran-McClain, MPA, will join the organization as vice president of government affairs and policy.
"We are very excited to have Ms. McClain on board," says Alan Morgan, NRHA CEO. "Carrie has significant rural health policy experience, including senior leadership positions within HHS. She has a commanding knowledge of health policy issues facing rural America. She will be a valuable asset to our team as we work to advance our policy agenda and secure funding for critical rural health care priorities."
McClain has more than 18 years experience working in federal health policy development. She spent the past two years as principal for Health Management Associates (HMA), helping clients navigate the publicly financed health care system. In her role at HMA, she also focused on improving health outcomes through delivery systems redesign, promotion of health equity for vulnerable populations, and safety net delivery system quality and operations.
Prior to HMA, she served as director for the Federal Office of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in Rockville, Md. In this role, she directed the operations of the 45-person office, serving as chief advisor on all crossagency policy issues arising from legislation, budget proposals, regulatory actions, and federal and state program or policy and their impact on HRSA populations and providers.
McClain’s professional experience also includes an appointment as deputy associate administrator for the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, where she served from 2006 to 2010.
At NRHA, McClain will oversee the legislative and regulatory agenda of the organization and provide advocacy on issues that will improve access to health care in rural America. "I am very happy to join NRHA and play a part in advancing the often overlooked health care needs and well-being of rural Americans," McClain says.
NRHA is a national nonprofit organization with more than 21,000 members that provides leadership on rural health issues. The association’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of rural Americans and to provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research. NRHA membership is made up of a diverse collection of individuals and organizations, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health.