Rural Health Champion

November 19, 2015 is National Rural Health Day!

 

• Is someone you know a rural health champion?
• Do you know someone doing exceptional work in rural Virginia and advancing rural health?
• Do you have a friend/family member/colleague who you feel should be recognized for contributions to rural health?  

The Virginia State Office of Rural Health wants to hear from you!

 

We are looking for nominations for rural health champions in Virginia. 

Click here for more information about how to nominate a rural health champion in your community!

Recognition for Virginia Flex Program

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy awarded the Virginia Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant (Flex) Program with a Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Program (MBQIP) Certificate of Excellence on June 23, 2015, during the "Pathways to Value: 2015 Flex Program Reverse Site Visit" in Bethesda, Md.

 

The award “recognizes the dedication to provide quality care on MBQIP inpatient measures demonstrated in 2014” by Virginia Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).  “Pathways to Value” was a two-day long event that served as an opportunity for state Flex Program grantees to convene and share information about providing assistance to CAHs as they become top performers in the new value-based reimbursement system.

 

The Virginia Flex Program is in the Virginia State Office of Rural Health in the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity.

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

Free, Upcoming Webinars on Rural Health Factors, Veteran Health Care

On May 6 and 7, 2014, the Virginia Rural Health Association will host two free webinars focusing on health factors in rural communities and veteran health care concerns and benefits. "Rural Social Determinants of Health" will be broadcasted on May 6 at 12 p.m. and will focus on the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health outcomes, known as Social Determinants of Health. "Improving Health Care for Veterans Begins With You" will begin at 10 a.m. on May 7 and review common concerns that veterans have and provide screening tools to use when providing care to veterans. For more information on the sessions and to register, click here.