Federal Update: The Office of Rural Health Policy

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Federal Update The Office of Rural Health Policy

• Jennifer L. Riggle, J.D.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Health Resources and Services Administration
• Office of Rural Health Policy
• The Federal Role in Rural EMS and Trauma Care
• August 18, 2006

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About the Office of Rural Health Policy

• Established in 1987 as a voice for rural health
  within HHS
• Policy role
• Grant programs
• Located within HRSA
• Serves the entire Department

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ORHP as an EMS Partner

• Federal Role
• Administer grant programs
• Title XII
• Research/Policy and Community Needs
• NRHA
• Research Centers
• REMSTTAC

• Strengthening Partnerships
• Joint Committee NOSORH NASEMSD
• CAH Partnerships
• NRHA

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REMSTTAC

• All key federal partners are represented on the
  stakeholder committee
• Active participation in shaping the products and
  deliverables
• Everyone accepted responsibility for the
  promotion of REMSTTAC and its products

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Authorized but not Appropriated

• Rural Emergency Services Training and Equipment
  Assistance Grant Program- The REMSTEP grant
  program seeks to fund eligible entities that
  propose to develop improved emergency medical
  services (EMS) in rural areas.

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Who and Where is Jacob?

• With HRSA since 1978
• 1997-2006 Arizona Border Health
• 1990-1997 Deputy Director Puerto Rico Regional
  Office
• Migrant, Community Health
• 1980-1990 Regional Program Director Seattle
  Regional Office
• 1978-1980 Chicago Regional Office
• NHSC, primary care

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ORHP Programs

• Outreach
• Network Development
• Small Hospital Improvement Program
• Rural Automated External Defibrillators
• Public Access to Defibrillators
• Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program
• Rural Health Research
• State Offices of Rural Health
• Delta State Network Program
• Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement
• Black Lung
• Radiation Exposure Screening and Education

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Collaboration Medical Oversight

• On-line rural medical directors training program
• Modified delivery format of the Guide for
  Preparing Medical Directors
• Project builds on work previously funded by NHTSA
  and completed by the National Association of EMS
  Physicians, the American College of Emergency
  Physicians and the NASEMSD

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ORHP Outreach Grant

• Modifications
• Expanded to become self instructional in nature
• Product migrated to web-based interactive format

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ORHP Sponsored EMS Research

• Advantages and Disadvantages of Hospital-Based
  EMS in Rural Areas
• Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
• Expected finished by 12/05

• Rural EMS Workforce and Medical Direction
• University of North Carolina Rural Health
  Research and Policy Analysis Center
• August 2007

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Contacts

• Contacting HRSA
• http//www.hrsa.gov
• Contacting ORHP
• http//ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/ 301-443-0835
• Outreach Jennifer Chang Nisha Patel
• Network Sherilyn Pruitt
• Policy Questions Carrie Cochran and Erica
  Molliver
• Flex Steve Hirsch
• State Office and SHIP Keith Midberry
• Black Lung Kristi Martinsen
• Radiation Vanessa Hooker
• Delta Network Lakisha Smith
• Delta Health Initiative George Brown or Shelia
  Tibbs
• Rural Access to Emergency Devices Sheila Warren

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Thank You
Jennifer L Riggle jriggle_at_hrsa.gov 301-443-7530