State Offices of Rural Health Grant Program (SORH)

The goal of the State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) grant program is to assist the States in strengthening the rural health delivery systems in the rural communities of each state. The program provides a central focus for many of the rural oriented activities that take place within the state thereby strengthening both the advocacy and educational roles of the offices. The program strengthens the health care infrastructure in rural communities by bringing stakeholders together to reach mutually beneficial solutions addressing barriers to care that include economics, education and general access issues.

SORH Award Amount (FY06): $143,000

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

1. Published a quarterly newsletter in conjunction with the New Jersey Primary Care Association that is distributed to approximately 125 rural and 300 total health stakeholders.
2. Relocated office in order to improve stakeholder access and improve meeting space.
3. Improved primary care access to Hunterdon County’s growing Latino Community through establishment of ombudsman position.
4. Co-sponsored statewide oral health summit
5. Co-sponsored health fair in Atlantic County
6. Sponsored diabetes self-help workshops in two counties and eye screenings in one county.
7. Co-sponsored legislative educational session.
8. Provided rural perspective to State bio-terrorism preparedness planning

SORH Contact Information:
Office: New Jersey State Office of Rural Health
Address: 3836 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 201, Hamilton, NJ 08619
Phone: 609-689-9930
Fax: 609-689-9940
Email: jceserano@njpca.org
Director: Justine Ceserano

2) 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): $0

Program Highlights:

• Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 0
• Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 0
• Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 0
• Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: 0
• Number of Rural Communities assisted: 0

Major Accomplishments:

New Jersey Not Eligible

3) 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): $0

Program Highlights:

• Hospitals receiving funding: 0
• Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 0
• Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors: 0
• Hospitals using grant funds for Health Information Technology: 0

Major Accomplishments:

New Jersey Not Eligible

Total HRSA Funding (FY06): $143,000