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Rural Health Briefing July 26 2005
National News
1. GAO Report Recommends Changes for Health Centers and Rural Clinics
2. Rural Areas See Impact of Caps on Malpractice Suits
3. Bright Futures Family Pocket Guide in Spanish
4. Secretary Leavitt Announces 500-Day Plan
Across Arizona
1. Hopi Health Care Center Awarded Gold Seal by JCAHO
2. Young Arizona Health Scholars Honored
3. Arizona Healthcare Leadership Academy
4. New Report on State-Tribal Collaboration for Security
5. Native American Youth – The Magazine
6. Bernally Interim CEO at Sage Memorial
7. New Messenger for Health Equality
8. HEMMY Nominations Due
Grants and Opportunities
1. Connecting Public Health with Health Information Exchanges
2. Rural Health Network Development Planning Grants
3. End-of-Life Quality of Care Grants
4. Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant
5. Rural Health Network Development Grants
6. Quality of Care for Underserved Populations Grants
7. Rural Funders Take Collaborative Approach
Calendar
- August 4-5, 16th Annual Southwest Regional Trauma Conference, Tucson
- August 8-9, Northeast Region Tribal Public Health Emergency and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Training, Flagstaff
- August 10, CMS Billing and Coding Training for Arizona CAHs, teleconference, Arizona and Wyoming
- August 11-12, National Association of Rural Health Clinics Summer Institute, Reno, Nevada
- August 15-16, Southeast Region Tribal Public Health Emergency and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Training, Pinetop
- August 16, Arizona Performance Improvement Summit: Reaching for Excellence, Phoenix
- August 17-19, Arizona Rural Development Conference, Oro Valley, Arizona
- August 22-26, ORPH’s All Programs Meeting: The Crossroads of Rural Health, Washington, D.C.
- August 23-26, 8th Annual National Community Health Workers/Promotores Conference, Phoenix. Contact 928-627-9228 or email here.
- August 27-30, Weaving WIC Into Our Traditional Families: Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Tempe
Mark Your Calendars!
- September 1, Medication Reconciliation, Are You Ready?, Scottsdale
- September 7-9, Arizona Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Sedona
- September 8-9, Second Annual Health Information Technology Summit, Washington, D.C.
- September 14-16, Phoenix Area Tribal, Urban HIS Diabetes Nutrition Meeting, St. George, Utah
- September 15-16, 20th Annual Hispanic Women’s Conference, Phoenix
- September 30, 3rd Annual Arizona Women’s Conference, Tucson
- October 5-7, NRHA Critical Access Hospital Conference, Kansas City
- October 6-9, National Indian Education Association Annual Conference, Denver
- October 13-15, National Association of Rural Health Clinics Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
- October 18-19, Collaborative Leadership for Public Health Professionals Train the Trainer, Phoenix
- October 24-25, Innovations in Community Prevention, Washington, D.C.
- October 27-28, Border Health: Information for Action VI, Tucson
- November 5-9, National Rural Education Association Conference, Tucson
- January 9-11, 2006, National Leadership Summit on Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health, Washington, D.C.
National News
1. GAO Report Recommends Changes for Health Centers and Rural Clinics
The Medicaid prospective payment system (PPS) for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs) has not been implemented as required by the Medicare Benefits Protection and Improvement Act of 2000 (BIPA) according to a report from the GAO. Many state’s payment systems do not comply with the law and CMS oversight has been minimal, according to GAO.
The report recommends that CMS explore development of a more appropriate inflation index for BIPA PPS and improve its guidance for states. CMS disagreed with these.
The 36-page report, Health Care Centers and Rural Clinics: State and Federal Implementation Issues for Medicaid’s New Payment System, is available by clicking here.
2. Rural Areas See Impact of Caps on Malpractice Suits
States that have capped malpractice lawsuit awards have seen a larger growth in the number of practicing physicians than those states without such caps, according to a new study from HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The study found that the cap had a significant impact in rural areas. Between 1975 and 2000, the growth in the median number of rural physicians in states with caps of $250,000 was 9 percent higher than in those states with caps over $250,000.
The study used county-specific data from the Area Resources Files maintained by HRSA.
The full study is available at the Health Affairs: A Policy Journal of the Healthsphere website.
3. Bright Futures Family Pocket Guide in Spanish
A new Spanish edition of the 100+ page, family-oriented Bright Futures Family Pocket Guide is now available. Using colorful graphics and understandable language, the guide includes sections on how to work with health care providers, what to expect as a child grows by ages and stages, questions to ask at health visits, and resources for healthcare. To receive a free copy or inquire about making bulk orders, call the HRSA Information Center at 888-275-4772.
Bright Futures for families, a national initiative to improve the health and well being of children also offers a free, bi-monthly electronic newsletter, Family Matters. Click here for details about the newsletter and other Bright Futures programs.
4. Secretary Leavitt Announces 500-Day Plan
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has released a 500-Day Plan of his priorities. The sections of the plan are: transform the health care system; modernize Medicare and Medicaid; advance medical research; secure the homeland; protect life, family and human dignity; and improve the human condition around the world. Each of these sections includes a list of areas in which Leavitt concentrate. For example, in the first section – transform health care system – key points touch on health information technology, drug safety, enabling state insurance pools, medical liability reform and supporting community based approaches to closing the health care gap among racial and ethnic minorities.
Each section also highlights a 5,000-day vision. The plan will be updated every 200 days and was last revised on May 4, 2005.
Click here to read more.
Across Arizona
1. Hopi Health Care Center Awarded Gold Seal by JCAHO
On the basis of a rigorous accreditation examination, Hopi Health Care Center, a critical access hospital, has received the Gold Seal of Approval, the highest recognition given by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). During the June survey, JCAHO noted several outstanding practices at Hopi Health Care Center. Practices such as providing verbal read-back to patients, 24-hour sign off orders by administration and staff and an overall high level of interdepartmental communication were highlighted.
2. Young Arizona Health Scholars Honored
Two Arizona students were chosen as Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars, a national internship program for talented minorities. Candice Donald, a recent graduate of the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH), and Aaron Begay, of Arizona State University, were among only 16 students selected. They will go to Washington, D.C. for nine weeks for internships in congressional offices to gain insight on how health policy is created and implemented. The program is directed by the Kaiser Family Foundation in partnership with Howard University.
While at MEZCOPH, Donald participated in the Indians in Medicine Program, sponsored by the University of Arizona and the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona.
3. Arizona Healthcare Leadership Academy
Developing leaders who have the confidence and skills to improve the quality of the healthcare work environment is the purpose of the Arizona Health Care Leadership Academy. The Academy offering a pragmatic, four-day education program designed to teach fundamental leadership skills. Previous sessions have attracted healthcare managers and supervisors, front-line nurses, and employees who have been recognized for their leadership potential. In its first year, the Academy has provided training for almost 200 people at over 20 hospitals and healthcare facilities across Arizona. It is sponsored by the UA College of Nursing, the UA Eller College of Management, the Arizona Nurses Association and the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.
Upcoming programs will be offered in Prescott on four Fridays between August 26 and October 7 and in Tucson on four Wednesday between September 14 and October 26. Click here for details.
4. New Report on State-Tribal Collaboration for Security
The Arizona Commission on Indian Affairs has issued a 14-page report, Securing Arizona’s Communities: Building a Model for State-Tribal Collaboration. It focuses on how all levels of government can develop and enhance working relationships to address homeland security, emergency management and border issues. The report grew out of the 25th Annual Arizona Indian Town Hall at which nearly 100 people representing federal, state, local and tribal governments and private sector firms met June 6-8, 2005. Discussion topics included interagency cooperation and communication, bioterrorism, emergency management resources and respecting cultural concerns.
Click here for the full report.
5. Native American Youth – The Magazine
A new online magazine for Native American youth intends to showcase the talents, ideas and lifestyles of Native American’s under the age of 25. And it hopes to become the most visited Native American website.
The publisher of Native Youth Magazine, Mary Kim Titla, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and a veteran TV reporter, is seeking submissions of articles, poetry, profiles, story ideas, suggestions, photos and illustrations. Articles can be about events or issues happening in communities, schools, people and families. All stories must be 500 words or less and can be emailed to submissions@nativeyouthmagazine.com. All submissions will be reviewed and edited if necessary. Accompanying photos are encouraged.
Click here to visit the magazine’s site.
6. Bernally Interim CEO at Sage Memorial
Lauren Bernally has been named Interim CEO at Sage Memorial Hospital, a critical access hospital, following the resignation of Dr. Taylor McKenzie. Bernally’s appointment was effective July 1.
7. New Messenger for Health Equality
The Center for Health Equality is the new name for Project EXPORT at the University of Arizona. And the Messenger is their new newsletter. Project EXPORT is an NIH-funded Center of Excellence in Partnership for Community Outreach, Research on Health Disparities and Training representing a collaboration between the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health with the Mexican American Studies and Research Center, the Native American Research and Training Center and the University’s Graduate College.
The premier issue of the Messenger reports on work with community partners in the Sunnyside and Elvira neighborhoods of Tucson and the Hardrock community located in the heart of the Navajo Nation. It also has updates on the Project EXPORT training activities and Fellows program. To receive a copy of the newsletter, contact Griselda Martinez.
Dr. Cecilia Rosales has joined the administrative core of the Center for Health Equality in addition to her faculty duties in MEZCOPH. Dr. Rosales was formerly chief of ADHS’ Office of Border Health.
8. HEMMY Nominations Due
August 5 is the extended deadline for entries to this year’s Health Education Media Makers Yearly (HEMMY) Awards. Professional and grassroots submissions of health education-related materials are eligible. Complete campaigns can be entered as well as audio-visual, print, visual aids or curricular materials.
The Arizona Public Health Association sponsors the awards that are announced at their annual meeting,
Click here for details.
Grants and Opportunities
Note: Technical assistance is readily available for the development of grant proposals and other funding applications from the experienced staff of the Rural Health Office and the State Office of Rural Health Program. Please contact Jennifer Peashock.
1. Connecting Public Health with Health Information Exchanges
Application Deadline: September 7, 2005
The Information Links program will provide grants to support the participation of state and local public health agencies in health information exchanges. The grants are available to public health agencies for activities in support of population-based public health services, as opposed to direct provision of health care (e.g., safety-net provider services). The program is designed as a one-time, short-term stimulus to catalyze and facilitate greater participation by public health agencies in health information exchanges.
State and local health departments and nonprofit organizations, such as public health institutes, specifically designated by a state or local health department to receive funds on their behalf, are eligible to apply.
Approximately 20 grants of between $75,000 and $100,000 each will be awarded. This is a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
For application details and to register for applicant conference calls please visit http://www.informationlinks.org
2. Rural Health Network Development Planning Grants
Announcement number: HRSA 06-007
Application deadline: September 8, 2005
This program is intended to support organizations to plan a network among health care organizations to integrate systems of care administratively, clinically, financially and technologically. Unlike the Rural Health Outreach Grants (see later in this section) there funds are not used for direct delivery of services. The planning grants provide assistance to plan, organize and develop a health care network where there is not a significant history of collaboration.
Awards of $25,000-$100,000 will be made for periods of one year.
Click here for details.
3. End-of-Life Quality of Care Grants
Application deadline: September 15, 2005
The Aetna Foundation is seeking proposals to enhance the quality of health care with a special emphasis on reducing racial and ethnic disparities. The current cycle will address end-of-life care in the following areas: training and education (including cultural competency), support services and resources for caregivers, and initiatives that reduce barriers to use of palliative and home care services.
Requests can range from $50,000-$300,000 over one to three years. The process begins with online submission of a short abstract describing the project. Qualifiers will be requested to submit full applications.
Click here for complete details.
4. Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant
Announcement number: HRSA 06-005
Application deadline: September 23, 2005
This program encourages the development of new and innovative health care delivery systems in rural communities that lack essential health care services. It emphasizes creative strategies in which the grantee forms a consortium with at least two partners.
Projects should be based on demonstrated community needs and may include primary care, dental care, mental health services, home health care, emergency care, health promotion and education programs, and outpatient day care.
Grants are available of up to $375,000 for three years.
Click here for details.
5. Rural Health Network Development Grants
Announcement number: HRSA 06-010
Application deadline: September 26, 2005
This program is intended to support organizations to further ongoing collaborative relationships among health care organizations to integrate systems of care administratively, clinically, financially and technologically. The ultimate goal here is to strengthen the rural health care delivery system by improving the viability of the individual providers in the network. Networks must consist of at least three separately owned health care providers. Such networks must demonstrate an understanding of key needs of the community’s health care providers and be prepared to provide solutions and benefits to providers.
Both horizontal (all member are the same type of organization) and vertical networks (members of different types of organizations) are eligible.
Grants are available of up to $540,000 for three years.
Click here for details.
6. Quality of Care for Underserved Populations Grants
The Commonwealth Fund is supporting efforts to improve the quality of care for Hispanics, Native Americans and other minorities. Established in 2000, this program focuses on several areas: quality monitoring and reporting; quality improvement in underserved settings; improving communication with patients who do not speak English or have low health literacy; cultural competency; and dissemination of knowledge of health disparities.
Other program areas include health care coverage and access, in addition to international health and policy practices.
Letters of inquiry using an online form are requested to initiate the grant process. Applications are accepted only from tax exempt and public agencies. Small grants are awarded on a monthly basis and larger grants are decided by the Board of Directors, which meets three times each year.
Click here for details.
7. Rural Funders Take Collaborative Approach
The National Rural Funders Collaborative (NRFC) is facing up to problems of persistent rural poverty. If, as their analysis shows, decades of environmental and economic disinvestment, barriers of race and class, and cultural and social isolation are longstanding patterns, successful change will require regional, community-based and sustainable strategies for achieving the opposite outcomes of building community wealth, creating more inclusive leadership structures and increasing family self-sufficiency.
NRFC has set a ten-year goal to build the field of rural practice, policy and philanthropy and to leverage more than $100 million in new or untapped resources to support and strengthen poor rural communities and families. Although they do provide grants, grant making is not their primary function. Instead NRFC has developed a community of funders, practitioners and policy makers around innovative ideas and models dedicated to learn and support change by pushing each other to engage at a more responsive level.
A notable example is the Alaska Rural Community Health Economic Strategies described in the Annual Review of Strategic Investments 2003. It outlines the effort to expand the base of village-based primary health providers (including dental and mental health aides) by reforming from a purely medical modality to one of community empowerment.
Receive information about best practices learned by NRFC, subscribe to their online newsletter or read their journal, Rural Connections (see Knowledge Base in Resources) by clicking here.
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 project of the Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, housed in the Rural Health Office at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, and supported through a grant from HRSA (Office of Rural Health Policy). The Rural Hospital Flexibility Program was created by Congress to improve the financial viability and stability of health care in rural areas, including creation of a new designation for rural hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Designated CAHs are eligible for cost-based reimbursement for services provided to Medicare patients. In some states, including Arizona, additional reimbursement is also available for CAH services provided to Medicaid patients.
Your discerning comments, invaluable suggestions or probing questions are always welcome. Please send them as well as address changes to Jim Laukes, Editor, Rural Health Briefing.
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