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. Developed and maintained a soft ware program for nonprofit organizations that manages free prescriptions to indigent populations. MARP ( The Medication Access and Review Program) has a data base of more than 100 leading pharmaceutical firms. Established in more than 90 centers MARP generated more than $20,000,000.00 in free medication to more than 42,000 patients.
2. We are working with the ORHP to extend the program to the states in the Delta Project.
3. Provided technical support to the infrastructure of the state's rural health system, resulting in more than 517 visits to 76 primary care centers, 26 cost reports for rural health centers, $2,314,972 state funds for MAP( our Medical Assistance Plan that provides reimbursement to centers that provide care to indigent patients on a sliding fee scale), disbursed state capital development funds to 44 primary care facilities and 8 public health centers in the amount of $2,350,000, provide 20 state funded centers monthly practice-specific financial data and trend reports, reviewed 12 fee schedules for at risk practices, provide financial management assistance to 33 community health centers and provided technical assistance to 4 dental practices.
4. Administered the state loan repayment and incentive program for eligible dentists and primary care clinicians. To ensure access to provider services in safety net settings the Office supplemented the NHSC loan repayment program with state funds in the amount of $1,192,950.
5. In fiscal year 2005 the Office recruited 34 primary care physicians, 2 psychiatrists, 24 PAs, 10 FNPs, 26 dentists, and 2 licensed counselors. Since 1975 our Medical Placement Services Program has recruited more than 1,694 physicians and health care providers to 96 of the state's 100 counties
6. Community Care of NC provided technical assistance to 14 community-based networks serving 670,000 Medicaid recipients. The program is available in all 100 counties.
7. Successfully worked with the North Carolina General Assembly to continue receipt of the above appropriations.

SORH Contact Information:

Office: Office of Rural Health
Address: 2009 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-2009
Phone: (919) 733-2040
Fax: (919) 733-2981
Email: Serge.Dihoff@ncmail.net
Website:
Director: Torlen Wade

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): $586,000

Program Highlights:

• Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 21
• Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 8
• Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 21
• Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: 27
• Number of Rural Communities assisted: 38

Major Accomplishments:

1. Transitioned 2 CAHs to alternative services. One to a 94 bed nursing home and the other to a primary care facility.
2. Successfully negotiated with NC's Division of Medical Assistance a Medicaid reimbursement of 95% cost on a quarterly basis with a 100% reconciliation at the end of the year
3. Established a trauma training program for 17 hospital Emergency Departments. The program is conducted by the Trauma Director of a Trauma I tertiary hospital The State Office of Emergency Medical Services has adopted and allocate fund for the program to be replicated at all hospitals non Trauma I, II, or. III hospitals
4. More than $ 2,840,000 in non-federal dollars was leveraged by CAHs due to ongoing network development.

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 between approximately $9,000.
SHIP Award (FY 05): $252,180

Program Highlights:

• Hospitals receiving funding: 27
• Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 27
• Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors: 19
• Hospitals using grant funds for Health Information Technology: 17

Major Accomplishments:

North Carolina's SHIP Program, when meshed with the other State initiatives, becomes a potent force for accomplishing the vision of the NC ORH. North Carolina has used these opportunities to strengthen the development of integrated rural systems of care. The establishment of the NC Rural Health Policy Group has supported this effort. The Rural Health Policy Group can respond to barriers or problems that emerge in rural health network development activities. This group, which includes leadership from the NC Hospital Association, the NC Medical Society, the NC Department of Health and Human Services, the NC Office of Research, Demonstrations and Rural Health Development, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, and the Division of Public Health meets monthly to review and propose policy and reimbursement changes that are needed to build and sustain rural health network development activity.

Total HRSA Funding (FY 05): $988,180