Input Requested from Rural Providers on New Initiative

On January 26, 2015, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced a major new HHS initiative focused on health care delivery system reform.  The announcement included measurable goals and a timeline to move the Medicare program, and the health care system at large, toward paying providers based on the quality, rather than the quantity of care they give patients. To support these activities, HHS is creating a Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network that will involve both public and private sector stakeholders.  You can read more about the initiative in the links below.

This initiative will have important implications for all health care providers and the patients they serve. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy wants to hear from rural providers to ensure that rural providers can leverage the opportunities to align with the goals laid out by the Secretary.  For example, what are the implications of the unique payment classifications for rural hospitals and rural health clinics for engaging fully in these new directions? How can we ensure that the goals are attainable for rural providers? 

We’re asking our grantees and rural health stakeholders to take a thorough look at information available through the links below and provide feedback.  Send us your comments at the following address:  RuralDSR@hrsa.gov

You can also provide feedback on key rural issues for the Learning and Action Network at the following address: PaymentNetwork@cms.hhs.gov

Links with information about the initiative:

Delivery System Reform News Release

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2015pres/01/20150126a.html

Secretary Burwell’s Blog Item on Delivery System Reform

http://www.hhs.gov/blog/2015/01/26/progress-towards-better-care-smarter-spending-healthier-people.html

Secretary Burwell’s Article in the New England Journal of Medicine

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1500445

Delivery System Reform Fact Sheet

http://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2015-Fact-sheets-items/2015-01-26-2.html

Delivery System Reform Taxonomy

http://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2015-Fact-sheets-items/2015-01-26-3.html

UNC Minority Health Conference on February 27 via Webinar Broadcast

The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (VDH-OMHHE) invites you to join us on February 27, 2015 at 2 to 3:30 p.m. for the keynote address of the 36th Annual UNC Minority Health Conference. 

This year's conference is titled Reaching for the American Dream: Economic Mobility and Minority Health and will consider the impact of socioeconomic factors on minority health, with a particular focus on health disparities in the aftermath of the recession. Dr. William "Sandy" Darity Jr., PhD, Professor at Duke University, will speak, highlighting timely research on this topic and focus on opportunities to advance minority health in the present period of economic recovery. The keynote address will be followed by a facilitated Q & A session. 

The session is part of the VDH-OMHHE's 2015 Health Equity & Cultural Competency Training Series and will take place at the VDH Madison Building at 109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA in the Mezzanine Conference Room. Polycom sites are also available. Please see the flyer for details. Topics and dates of other sessions in this series will be released here and on the VDH-OMHHE website in the near future.