Sen. Roger Wicker Recognized as MRHA National Legislator of the Year

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker was recently recognized by the Mississippi Rural Health Association as its National Legislator of the Year before an audience of more than 180 health care professionals at its 22nd Annual Conference in Jackson. Sen. Wicker has supported multiple pieces of healthcare legislation in the past year, including those that supported the stabilization of rural hospital and rural health clinic payment methodologies, the 340(b) prescription drug program, telehealth, opioid abuse, colorectal cancer screenings, rural broadband access and new strategies for delivering rural healthcare.

Ryan Kelly, executive director of the Mississippi Rural Health Association states, “Sen. Wicker and his staff have done a superb job at supporting rural health in Mississippi. He is eager to support positive legislation that benefits Mississippi’s health infrastructure and policies in order to allow providers and facilities to take greater leadership roles at improving our citizens’ health Outcomes.”

Sen. Wicker has supported and co-sponsored multiple pieces of healthcare legislation over the past several years, most notably supporting telehealth. Other legislation has supported the creation of new models of healthcare, stabilizing rural hospital and rural health clinic payment methodologies, opioid abuse, colorectal cancer screenings, rural broadband access, Representing Mississippi in the US Senate since 2007, Sen. Wicker has held multiple leadership roles in the Senate and with the Republican Party. Prior to his service in the Senate, Wicker was elected seven times, beginning in 1994, to represent Mississippi’s First Congressional District in the House of Representatives. Before being elected to Congress, he served in the state Senate on behalf of Lee and Pontotoc counties.A native of Pontotoc, Mississippi, Sen. Wicker is married to the former Gayle Long of Tupelo, where they currently reside.