Rural Health Needs Planning Act of 1979

Rural Health Needs Planning Act of 1979 - Amends title XV of the Public Health Service Act (National Health Planning and Development) to direct the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, in issuing national guidelines for health planning, to include separate guidelines and regulations for rural areas served by health systems agencies (HSAs), where the needs of such areas cannot be met by the national guidelines.

Provides for representation of rural areas on the National Council on Health Planning and Development, and includes the Assistant Secretary for Rural Development of the Department of Agriculture. Revises the formula for planning grants to designated HSAs.

Requires a majority of the members of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council to be State residents who are representative of the population groups and subgroups including rural residents.

Requires the Centers for Health Planning, in providing planning assistance to HSAs, to emphasize the needs of rural areas.