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): $150,000.00

Major Accomplishments in FY 2006 (October 1, 2005 – September 30, 2006):

1. Sponsored the 3rd Annual Southern Regional Rural Health Conference in partnership with the Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana Rural Health Associations.
2. Assisted with responding to 334 inquiries about provider recruitment; assisted with the placement of 11 providers.
3. Publication of a quarterly newsletter, Crossroads, which a distribution listing of more than 700 individuals and organizations associated with rural health in the state and nationally.
4. Provided TA to 54 communities on various issues such as grant development, funding opportunities, rural designations, health statistics, health initiatives, and recruitment.

SORH Contact Information:
Office: Mississippi Office of Rural Health
Address: Mississippi Department of Health
PO Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
Phone: 601-576-7216
Fax: 601-576-7530

Director: Rozelia Harris

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): $395,000

Program Highlights:

• Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 28
• Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 2
• Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 2
• Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: *
• Number of Rural Communities assisted: 30
• Awaiting EMS Report

Major Accomplishments:

1. Assisted 2 CAHs with the acquisition of Automated Pharmacy Management Systems.
2. Hosted a statewide CAH education conference.
3. Provided $30,000 for EMT Paramedic Scholarships.
4. Assisted 8 hospitals with charge master reviews and coding audits to improve financial performance.
5. Had 9 Nurse Practitioners certified in acute care and ER telemedicine training; 7 practicing in CAHs.
6. Hosted a joint Regional CAH Conference with Louisiana.
7. Awarded 5 hospitals funding for participation in the JCAHO CSR Program.

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): $410,960.00

Program Highlights:

• Hospitals receiving funding: 44
• Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 25
• Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors: 29
• Hospitals using grant funds for Health Information Technology: 25

Major Accomplishments:

1. Prepared contracts and disbursed funds to grantees, allowing hospitals to complete project activities early in grant year.
2. Sixty-six percent of hospitals used grant funds for quality improvement and reduction of medical errors.

Total HRSA Funding (FY06): $955,960.00