Rural Health Briefing
Volume XIIII December 13, 2007
Rural Health Office
UA Zuckerman College of Public Health
in conjunction with the Arizona Rural Health Association, Inc.
National News
- Rural Health Group Launches Online Health IT Resource Center
- Mandate e-Prescribing, Committee Advises HHS Secretary
- Unmet Health Care Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives Living in Urban Areas
- Rural Assistance Center Celebrates 5-Year Anniversary
- Review of Telehome Health Care Outcomes--Now Available
Across Arizona
- Arizona Telemedicine Program Receives FCC Funding
- Attention Arizona Critical Access Hospitals—Final CMS Rules For Colocation and Off-Campus Outpatient Clinics
- Influenza Confirmed in Maricopa County- Reminder to Get a Flu Shot
- Lynda Bergsma, Ph.D. Selected for 2008 NRHA Rural Health Fellows Program
Grants and Opportunities
- Arizona Diabetes Program Community Grants
- Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP)
- The Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program
- Rural Emergency Responders Initiative
- Rural Health Care Service Discounts – USAC
Mark Your Calendar 2008
Jan 15, Arizona Rural and Public Health Policy Forum, Phoenix, AZ
Jan 17-18, 7th International Conference on Health Policy Statistics, Philadelphia, PA
Jan 27-30, 21st Annual Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, San Diego, CA
Jan 28-30, NRHA Rural Health Policy Institute, Capitol Hilton, Washington, D.C.
Jan 30, WebEXpert Call: Being Ready for a Medicare CoP Survey
Feb 4-5, National Health Policy Conference, Washington, D.C.
Feb 19-22, Local, State, Federal Public Health Preparedness Summit, Atlanta, GA
March 17-19, NARHC 2008 Spring Institute, San Antonio, TX
May 5-6, Rural Medical Educators Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA
May 7-10, NRHA 2008 Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA
June 4-6, Western Region FLEX Conference 2008, Albuquerque, NM
June 22-25, NEHA 72nd Annual Educational Conference, Tucson, AZ
July 1-2, National Conference of State FLEX Programs, Kansas City, MO
July 23-25, Public Health Congress, Washington, D.C.
National News
1. Rural Health Group Launches Online Health IT Resource Center
According to a mention on the iHealthBeat.org web site posted December 6, 2007, the Rural Health Resource Center in Duluth, Minnesota, has launched an online rural health IT resource center. As mentioned in a December 5, 2007 article featured in Health IT Strategist, the center’s aim is to “help rural communities obtain the health IT they need.” Funding for the center was obtained “from the Health Resources and Services Administration's Office of Rural Health Policy to create a Web-based search engine to provide resources and support to rural hospitals transitioning to electronic health record systems.”
Click here for link to mention on the iHealthBeat.org site.
Click here for link to the Rural Health Resource Center.
2. Mandate e-Prescribing, Committee Advises HHS Secretary
According to the FCW.com news story by Nancy Ferris, published on November 28th, 2007, a high-level advisory committee recently asked the Health and Human Services Department to seek permission from Congress to mandate e-prescribing in the Medicare program. By acknowledging that not all the necessary groundwork had been laid for a national move to e-prescribing, the American Health Information Community laid out a series of conditions that should be met in the next year or two before a mandate could take effect. According to the news story, the committee adopted the recommendation during a telephone meeting in late November 2007. The story further mentions “HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, who heads AHIC, had urged the group to recommend the mandate as part of a strategy for gaining adoption of e-health records. E-prescribing is often described as the easiest and most rewarding element of health information technology for doctors, hospitals and pharmacies to adopt.”
Click here for full news story.
3. Unmet Health Care Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives Living in Urban Areas
According to a press release dated November 01, 2007, “millions of American Indians and Alaska Natives living in or near cities throughout the United States are seemingly invisible to health care providers and federal and state policy-makers and yet face significant heath care disparities, according to a new report, Invisible Tribes: Urban Indians and Their Health in a Changing World.” The report reviews the prevalence of three diseases—depression, diabetes and cardiovascular disease—in the American Indian and Alaska Native population. Ralph Forquera, M.P.H. and Director of the Urban Indian Health Institute stated, “The Commission's report illustrates the need for health care providers; policy-makers; and local, state and national private and public sector leaders to work together to provide better care to this seemingly invisible population.” Access to the report may be gained through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Website: http://www.rwjf.org/
Click here for full press announcement.
4. Rural Assistance Center Celebrates 5-Year Anniversary
According to a press release dated December 10, 2007, the Rural Assistance Center (RAC) launched its fledgling web site in December 2002 and took its first information request by telephone. Five years and 1.5 million web visits later, the extensive RAC web site will be undergoing a facelift. Per the press release, “The Rural Assistance Center (RAC) is a national resource designed to meet the substantial rural health and human services information needs of rural communities. RAC provides rural communities with access to a full range of available programs, funding and research that can enable them to provide quality health and human services.” Kristine Sande, the RAC Project Director stated that RAC’s web site has become a premiere destination for “access to current information on rural health and human services topics. Our new homepage will allow our users even easier access to the wealth of information available on our site.”
Click here for the full announcement.
5. Review of Telehome Health Care Outcomes--Now Available
The report prepared for the Advanced Medical Technology Association, which is titled Telehomecare and Remote Monitoring:An Outcomes Overview, is now available for review.
Click here for more details.
6. HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
According to a press release dated November 30, 2007, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recognized World AIDS Day and highlighted its Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program in an ongoing effort to “deliver HIV/AIDS care to those who need it most.” Per the release, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program “supports primary health care, life-saving medications and support services for more than a half-million low-income, uninsured and underinsured Americans every year.” In fact, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program is the “fastest growing component of all Ryan White programs, and one in four HIV positive people in care receive their medications through this program.”
Click here for the full announcement.
Across Arizona
1. Arizona Telemedicine Program Receives FCC Funding
According to the December 12th, 2007 news announcement posted online by University Communications, “the University of Arizona’s internationally renowned Arizona Telemedicine Program has received Federal Communications Commission funding to upgrade the broadband network it uses to deliver award-winning, critical health services to Arizona’s remotest communities. The award is part of a larger, UA-led effort to build a state-of-the-art telemedicine network for the American Southwest.” In a statement made by FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, he noted, “The development of such a network will create numerous opportunities for delivering telehealth services, including telemedicine applications that have the potential to revolutionize the current health care system throughout the nation. A dedicated national broadband network also will facilitate the President’s goal of implementing electronic medical records nationwide.”
Click here for full announcement.
2. Attention Arizona Critical Access Hospitals—Final CMS Rules For Colocation and Off-Campus Outpatient Clinics
Now available on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services web site in the Centers for Medicare & Medicade Services section, is the information about the final changes to the ASC Payment System and CY2008 Payment Rate (CMS-1392-FC). Also available on this webpage is a link to the full CMS-1392-FC document in PDF format.
Click here for more details.
3. Influenza Confirmed in Maricopa County- Reminder to Get a Flu Shot
An Arizona Department of Health Services press release dated November 20, 2007 informed the public about the first verified cases of influenza for the 2007-2008 flu season. The Arizona Department of Health Services Lab confirmed the first two influenza cases in Maricopa county and the press announcement reminded everyone statewide to “protect the ones you love” by getting a flu shot. According to the statement from Dr. Bob England, director of Maricopa County's Department of Public Health, "As we see by these cases, flu can affect anyone - from the older adult to the very young." He added, “This is a reminder that the best gift you can give your friends and family this holiday season is getting your flu shot. Spread joy and cheer, not the flu.”
Click here for full announcement.
4. Lynda Bergsma, Ph.D. Selected for 2008 NRHA Rural Health Fellows Program
Congratulations go out to Lynda J. Bergsma, Ph.D. for being selected to participate in the 2008 year-long intensive NRHA Rural Health Fellows Program. Dr. Bergsma is currently the Director of the State Office of Rural Health Program in the Arizona Rural Health Office located within the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. The goal of the Rural Health Fellows Program is to develop leaders that can articulate a clear and compelling vision for rural America. According to the NRHA website over the course of the year-long program, Fellows will “gain valuable insights and build critical skills in three primary domains: 1) Personal, team, and organizational leadership; 2) Health policy analysis and advocacy; 3) National Rural Health Association governance and structure. These ambitious learning and skill development objectives will be accomplished through a combination experiential and action learning, exposure to premier faculty and seasoned practitioners, and reinforcement through executive coaching and structured team assignments.”
Click here for more details about the program.
Grants and Opportunities
Note: Technical assistance is available for the development of grant proposals and other funding applications from the professional staff of the Rural Health Office and the State Office of Rural Health Program. Please contact Jennifer Peters.
1. Arizona Diabetes Program Community Grants
Application deadline: January 30, 2008
The University of Arizona Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention and Health Promotion located within the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College Public Health, and on behalf of the Arizona Department of Health Services Diabetes Program, announce the availability of two community grants to fund the implementation and evaluation of programs that address type 2 diabetes education with communities across the state of Arizona. Applications are due January 30, 2008. Successful applications will be notified of awards by February 15, 2008. Two awards for up to forty thousand dollars ($40,000) will be given to applicants that meet the intention of the grant guidance. Projects must be completed within 6 to 12 months of award, or no later than February 14, 2009.
Obtain Applications From:
Griselda Martinez
Program Coordinator, Health Disparities Training
1295 N. Martin
Campus POB: 245163
Tucson, AZ 85724
(520) 626-9672
grm1@coph.arizona.edu
2. Health Careers Opportunity Program
Application deadline: February 22, 2008
The Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) is designed to assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake education to enter a health profession. The HCOP program works to build diversity in the health fields by providing students from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to develop the skills needed to successfully compete, enter and graduate from health professions schools. The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. The brief announcement is available here.
Click here for Grants.gov link to instructions and application.
3. The Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program
Application deadline: Ongoing
The Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program is designed to provide loans for funding, on a technology neutral basis, the costs of construction, improvement and acquisition of facilities and equipment to provide broadband services to eligible rural communities. The Programs’ goal is to ensure that rural consumers enjoy the same quality and range of telecommunications services that are available in urban and suburban communities. The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. The brief announcement is available here.
Click here for full announcement details.
4. Rural Emergency Responders Initiative
Application deadline: Accepted Ongoing
The Rural Development, through its community facilities program, provides funding for the Rural Emergency Responders Initiative to specifically strengthen the ability of rural communities to respond to local emergencies. The community facilities program funds are used to support rural emergency responder efforts by financing needed equipment and services. The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. The brief announcement is available here.
Click here for additional details.
5. Rural Health Care Service Discounts – USAC
Application deadline: Accepted Ongoing Except Prorated
The Rural Health Care Division of Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is responsible for ensuring that health care providers in rural areas obtain the benefits of the Internet and current telecommunications technology as provided for by the United States Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) through universal service support. Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis. For full year funding for funding year 2007 (7/1/07 - 6/30/08), applications should be submitted by June 2, 2007. Later applications will be pro-rated.
Click here for additional details.
Contact Your Representatives
a. Arizona Congressional Delegation: Links to Arizona members of the U.S. House of Representatives are available at: U.S. Representatives. Links to Arizona members of the U.S. Senate are available at: U.S. Senate
b. Arizona State Legislators: Available through the Arizona Legislative Information System (ALIS): Call 1-800-352-8404 or follow links at Arizona Legislature.
Important Links
Editor's Note: This online newsletter is a joint project of the Rural Health Office housed at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, and the Arizona Rural Health Association, Inc. The mission of the Rural Health Office is to promote the health of rural and medically underserved individuals, families, and communities through service, education and research. The Arizona Rural Health Association, Inc. advocates on behalf of the health needs of rural Arizonans at national, state and local levels. Its multidisciplinary membership provides a respected and highly effective group of rural health practitioners and rural community residents. For example, the AzRHA, Inc. has actively and successfully advocated with the state legislature for funding for tele-medicine and mobile clinics in all fifteen counties of the state.
Your questions (or answers) are always welcome. Please send them as well as address changes to Taya Waltke, Administrative Associate, Rural Health Office.
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