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.
The essential
functions of the Maryland SORH are to provide technical assistance
to rural entities throughout Maryland; coordinate rural health resources
and activities in the State; encourage recruitment and retention
in the State; and collect and disseminate information.
Maryland has more than 5.5 million residents. Of these residents,
28.8 percent (1,601,019) live in state-designated rural areas and
7 percent (390,322) live in federally-designated rural areas.
SORH
Award Amount (FY06): $150,000
Major
Accomplishments in FY 2006 (October 1, 2005 – September 30,
2006):
- Increased
recruitment and retention efforts through the encouragement of
3R Net with health care center, private practices, local health
departments, and hospitals. Had over 20 postings and a repository
of over 400 health care providers interested in practicing in
the state.
- Developed
Memorandum of Understanding with University of Maryland Medical
School to outline goals in collaboration with the Area Health
Education Centers (AHEC)s. Goals included extension of Maryland’s
health professional schools to rural Maryland, increase number
of health professionals trained in rural Maryland, improve delivery
of health services in those rural areas, and increased opportunities
in health professional experiences in rural areas.
- Sponsored
the 9th Annual Maryland Rural Summit. Over 150 health administrators,
researchers, educators, rural advocates, legislators, physicians,
nurses, agency representatives, business leaders, and students
from across the state attended the Summit, which focused on rural
Maryland communities in transition.
- Awarded
over $60,000 in mini-grants for increased access to dental care,
training in preventative health, interpretation, and health career
promotion at the high school level.
- Created
a statewide Rural Health Steering Committee to develop a Maryland
Rural Health Plan. Completed needs assessment of rural areas including
demographics, provider supply, various health status indicators,
and other community data to inform the vision and goals of the
plan.
- Provided
technical assistance to over 30 rural communities on various issues
such as grant development, identifying funding sources, Health
Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations, health and demographic
data, and support for a new federal qualified health center (FQHC).
Disseminated three newsletters to over 200 rural health constituents
in the state.
SORH Contact Information:
Office: Maryland
Office of Rural Health
Address: 201 W. Preston St., Rm 423
Phone: 410-767-5121
Fax: 410-333-7501
Email: mclark@dhmh.state.md.us
Director: Michelle Green Clark
Other Grant Programs
2) Small
Rural Hospital Performance Improvement Grant Program (SHIP)
The goal of
SHIP is to assist small (less than 50 beds) rural hospitals in paying
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): $ 26,802.00
Program Highlights:
- Hospitals
receiving funding: 3
- Hospitals
using funds for prospective payment systems: 1
- Hospitals
using funds for HIPAA: 2
- Hospitals
using grant funds for reduction in medical errors: 1
Major Accomplishments:
- All grants
were disbursed in a timely fashion, allowing completion of projects
at beginning of grant cycle.
- Increased
a hospital’s accuracy of Diagnosis Related Groupings (DRG)
assignment for reimbursement in Maryland.
- Offset costs
of implementing electronic verification; clinical analyzer software;
and HIPAA administrative simplification provisions.
Total
HRSA Funding (FY 06): $176,802
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