New Mexico

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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