State Offices of Rural Health Grant Program (SORH)

The goal of the State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) grant program is to assist States in strengthening rural health care delivery systems by creating a focal point for rural health within each State. The program provides an institutional framework that links small rural communities with State and Federal resources to help develop long term solutions to rural health problems. The SORH grant program features a single grantee from each of the 50 United States. The program is a Federal-State partnership that requires a State funding match of $3 for each $1 of Federal funding.
SORH Award Amount (FY06): $150,000

Major Accomplishments in FY 2005 (October 1, 2004 - September 30, 2005):

1. Published a quarterly newsletter, Rural Health Update, which is distributed to over 8,000 rural health advocates across the state.
2. Improved SORH website to include rural relevant information as well as state specific data.
3. Provided Technical Assistance to 82 counties.
4. Assisted two medical providers in rural parts of the state with educational loan repayment through the State Loan Repayment Program.
5. The KY State Office of Rural Health received approximately 120 inquires regarding the State Loan Repayment Program.
6. Assisted in coordinating Kentucky's delegation for the annual Policy Institute at the nation's capital for three days of discussion with Washington's congressional leaders.
7. Assisted in the development of 5 rural health networks.
8. Involved in a collaborative effort that secured a grant for statewide AED placement and training.
9. KSORH provides the administrative function for the Kentucky Rural Health Association.
10. Participates in local, state and national organizations such as UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education), KRHA (Kentucky Rural Health Association), NRHA and NOSORH.
11. Involved in a collaborative effort that secured a state planning grant for gathering data regarding the characteristics of the uninsured population of Kentucky.

SORH Contact Information:

Office: Kentucky State Office of Rural Health
Address: 750 Morton Blvd., Hazard, KY 41701
Phone: 606-439-3557
Fax: 606-435-0038
Email: lalle2@uky.edu
Website: www.mc.uky.edu/ruralhealth/sorh.asp

Director: Larry J. Allen

Other Grant Programs

1. Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program (Flex)

The Flex Program helps sustain access to high quality health care services in rural America. It facilitates the development and support of community-based collaborative rural delivery systems in all grantee states through conversion of hospitals to critical access status, development of rural healthcare networks and integration of EMS.
Flex Award (FY05): $583,800

Program Highlights:

• Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 24
• Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 48
• Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 5
• Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: 60
• Number of Rural Communities assisted: 85

Major Accomplishments:

1. Five financial feasibilities studies were supported and funded to explore the financial benefit of CAH conversion.
2. Six hospitals received on-site technical assistance to prepare their facilities and staff for conversion.
3. Six Acute Care Hospitals successfully converted to Critical Access during the grant period.
4. In collaboration with the KY Hospital Association, all CAHs have access to COMPdata (a patient-level, all-payer database) and access to an on-line compliance program. Hosted an annual statewide CAH seminar on cost-based reimbursement.
5. Forty-eight CAH risk managers/QA directors received scholarships and travel stipends to attend accreditation education and training workshops.
6. Seventeen Economic Impact Studies have been funded to show rural communities and their leader the direct and indirect impact of health care on rural development and business growth.
7. Two network planning grants were supported by FLEX with both being funded by HRSA.
8. Fourteen rural counties received Paramedic/EMS education/training through a partnership with Eastern and Western Kentucky Universities.

The goal of SHIP is to assist small (less than 50 beds) rural hospitals pay for any or all of the following: 1) costs related to implementation of prospective payment systems, (2) compliance with provisions of HIPAA and 3) reduction of medical errors and quality improvement. State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) help eligible rural hospitals to participate in SHIP. Eligible hospitals submit an application to their SORH; the SORH prepares and submits a single grant application to HRSA on behalf of all hospital applicants in the State. There are approximately 1600 eligible hospitals nationwide and each usually receives between approximately $9,000.
SHIP Award (FY 05): $358,160

Program Highlights:

• Hospitals receiving funding: 37
• Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 37
• Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors: 32
• Hospitals using grant funds for Health Information Technology: 0

Major Accomplishments:

The ability of the consortium to operate as it was intended - to pool funds to maximize the purchasing power through economies of scale.

Total HRSA Funding (FY 05): $1,091,960