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 2006 (July 1, 2005 –
June 30, 2006):
- Repeated a rural health professional compensation survey to
assess the comparative levels of salary and benefits for these
occupations in rural New Mexico. The results of this survey were
summarized and disseminated to more than 70 rural providers and
provider organizations to assist them in planning effective recruitment
and retention.
- Convened rural health partners in planning meetings for integrated
behavioral and physical health services in rural areas under the
newly planned New Behavioral Health Collaborative. Helped coordinate
rural outreach of a statewide initiative on substance abuse intervention
and screening.
- Participated with rural health partners in planning for statewide
Hepatitis C Initiative targeting rural areas utilizing telehealth
technologies.
- Collected and disseminated information on Federal and State
rural health programs to more than 80 health care provider and
partner agencies. This information was disseminated routinely
throughout the year in both Email and regular mail. Information
was disseminated on numerous topics including changes in CMS policies
and procedures, grant and other funding opportunities, and best
practice model rural health care programs.
- Coordinated rural health planning with key partner agencies,
including the New Mexico AHEC, New Mexico Locum Tenens Program,
the Rural Interdisciplinary Training Program, New Mexico Health
Resources, New Mexico Health Policy Commission, Family Health
Bureau, Emergency Medical Services Program, Chronic Disease Bureau,
Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Advisory Committee,
New Mexico Primary Care Association, and the New Mexico Commission
on Higher Education. Provided partner agencies with data on health
needs in rural areas and assured a coordinated investment of State
resources in high priority rural areas.
- Provided data support and technical assistance to 12 agencies
in rural communities seeking to expand or improve local health
services.
- Provided financial support for a statewide rural healthcare
provider training that served more than 75 participants. This
effort is a major source of continuing education for rural medical
and dental healthcare providers in New Mexico.
SORH Contact Information:
Office: Office of Rural Health – NM Department of Health
Address: 300 San Mateo NE – Suite 900
Albuquerque, NM 87108
Phone: 505-841-5817
Fax: 505-841-5885
Director: Kim Kinsey
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 (FY06): $285,000
Program Highlights:
- Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 6
- Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 5
- Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 3
- Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: 8
- Number of Rural Communities assisted: 10
Major Accomplishments in FY 2006 (September 1, 2005 –
August 31, 2006):
- Through a contract with the New Mexico Medical Review Association,
conducted a health information technology assessment of 5 CAH
and small rural hospitals. This assessment was compiled to identify
readiness of rural hospitals for implementation of new electronic
health information systems.
- Through a contract with the New Mexico Medical Review Association,
conducted a patient safety assessment of 7 CAH and small rural
hospitals. This effort, conducted using AHRQ materials, provided
a baseline for projected Quality Improvement activities, including
the Five Million Lives campaign.
- Provided support to 3 EMS regional consortia offices covering
the entire rural part of the state to improve networking between
services and improve integration of EMS and CAHs.
- Provided financial support to 11 CAH board and staff leaders
to attend regional and national CAH conferences. The participation
of CAH leadership in these sessions enhanced their capacity to
effectively manage CAH operations.
2) Small Rural Hospital Performance Improvement Grant Program (SHIP)
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 approximately $9,000.
SHIP Award (FY06): $130,760
Program Highlights:
- Hospitals receiving funding: 14
- Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 0
- Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors:
10
- Hospitals using grant funds for Health Information Technology:
6
- Hospitals using grant funds for implementation of payment systems:
4
Major Accomplishments in FY 2006 (September 1, 2005 –
August 31, 2006):
Fourteen hospitals in New Mexico have been determined to be eligible
for the program:
- Ten (10) hospitals have used funds to cover costs related to
reduction of medical errors and improvement of operational quality.
This represents 46% of the total request budget.
- Six (6) hospitals indicated that they would use funds to comply
with provisions of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA). This represents 42% of the total request budget.
- Four (4) hospitals indicated they would use funds to cover
costs related to implementing Prospective Payment Systems (PPS).
This represents 12% of the total request budget.
Overall, the requests show a relative shift of focus for the SRHIP
in New Mexico toward Quality Improvement activities and health information
automation activities. This reflects the increased efforts of the
NMSORH and the New Mexico Medical Review Association (the State’s
QIO) in this arena under the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility
Program (FLEX). SRHIP funds are being used by local hospitals to
implement the systems/approaches learned through the FLEX.
Total HRSA Funding (FY06): $565,750
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