Rural Health Resources Arkansas Department of Health

Rural Health Resources & News

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For employment opportunities in a HPSA or medically underserved area, click here.
Rural Health Information Hub
Evidence-Based Toolkits for Rural Community Health

Downloads

The Student Exposure to Health Care Experiences and Careers Resource Guide is the joint effort of members of health and education sectors who first came together at the 2018 Rural Health Summit at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. The guide includes information and contacts for educational programs operating throughout Arkansas that provide health care-related experiences and career exposure for students of all ages.

Rural Health Student Experiences Resource Guide

Maps:

RHC Regulatory Compliance with The Compliance Team, for Arkansas

Informative Presentations from the 2020 Annual Rural Health Conference:

Presentation Recordings:

Day 1:

Day 2:

Informative Presentations from the 2020 National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Clinic Conference

Washington Update-National Rural Health Association RHC Conference
Presented by Nathan Baugh of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics

Explore federal regulatory and legislative issues affecting rural health clinics from the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. Lots of valuable information about allocations from the Federal Government, specifically for Rural Health Clinics. Cost reporting. Taxes. RHC Telehealth. And much more.

NRHA Government Affairs Update
Presented by Nathan Slabach, Josh Jorgensen, and Mason Zeagler of the National Rural Helath Association

Discover how the latest policy changes will affect you and your facility.

Simplifying Compliance Part A | Simplifying Compliance Part B1, Part B2, Part B3
Presented by Patty Harper of InQuiseek Consulting

Establishing and maintaining compliance can be an overwhelming challenge for both independent and provider-based rural health clinics. Discover practical guidance that simplifies day-to-day compliance tasks allowing rural providers to focus less on administrative burden and more on patient care.

Assuring RHC Compliance | Part 2
Presented by Kate Hill of The Compliance Team

Navigate through the accreditation process and learn all aspects of federal regulations, while discovering practical tips to stay in compliance. The value of accreditation will be discussed as challenging situations are reviewed, which result from long times between surveys. Staying connected is the key.

Quality Reporting and Care Management for RHCs (Sept 2020) | Part 2 | Part 3
Presented by Gary Lucas of Arch Pro Coding

RHCs are reporting quality metrics via HEDIS/HCC/Risk Adjustment and/or to achieve Shared Savings with various payers. Review key “ICD-10–CM Official Guidelines” associated with key diagnosis areas and discuss how new CPT Category II codes can help accurately report the true complexity of caring for RHC patients.

Educating Providers and Managers on Revenue and Documentation | Part 2
Presented by Gary Lucas, MSHI of Arch Pro Coding

Effective buy-in from facility leadership is necessary to develop and implement an educational plan that unites providers/managers/coders/billers in order to 1) document 100% of what was done and why, 2) Capture 100% of codes (CPT, HCPCS-II, ICD-10-CM) and 3) Get paid 100% of what you are entitled to and not any more than allowed.

Building a Better Rural Health Clinic
Presented by John Gale, MS of the Maine Rural Health Research Center

Growth in value-based care requires rural health clinics to adapt to payment programs that emphasize delivery of primary care and prevention services, care coordination and disease management, population health, information sharing, and quality reporting. Develop tools and care models to help RHCs flourish in the value-based environment.

Maximizing the Rural Health Clinic Designation
Presented by Mikaela Gehrig, Julie York, & Jillissa Chvala of Compass Memorial Healthcare

There are many different ways that rural health clinics can maximize their designation and increase access to services in rural populations. Increasing access to rural populations will improve patient health outcomes as well as improve financial and quality outcomes and goals of the rural health clinic.

Models of Mental Health Integration for Rural Health Clinics
Presented by John Gale, MS of the Maine Rural Health Research Center

To assist rural health clinics in addressing chronic shortages of mental health services, explore a study of mental health services provided by CAH-based RHCs. This will be an applied presentation focused on program and clinical design; staffing patterns; billing, coding, reimbursement and regulatory issues; and program sustainability.

How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Transforming Healthcare | Part 2
Presented by Jeffery Daigrepont, SVP of Coker Group

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care is on the rise and solving a variety of problems for patients and providers. Discover how AI solves problems and what’s on the horizon for the industry. Consider how the market is responding to AI.

Rural Health News

Pulsara Article-Comments from Providers: See what Arkansas providers think about the new Pulsara App!
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) provides analysis and information on the challenges, needs and opportunities facing rural America National Rural Health Association.
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is the voice of rural health, promoting leadership, communication, education, research, and advocacy since 1978. Some of the latest information available through NRHA include:
Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care - a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the clinical evaluation and improvement of health care in Arkansas.
National Academy of Medicine - The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) was established in 1970 under the name Institute of Medicine (IOM). In 1996, the NAM launched a concerted, ongoing effort focused on assessing and improving the nation's quality of care, which is now in its third phase.
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement - non- for-profit organization leading the improvement of health care throughout the world. IHI was founded in 1991 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations - recently announced the new National Patient Safety Goals.
The Commonwealth Fund - a private foundation that aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, and elderly adults.

Resources for Health Technology Assessment

AHRQ National Resource Center for Health Information Technology - (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) Lead Federal agency charged with improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. AHRQ supports health services research that will improve the quality of health care and promote evidence-based decision making. Site provides Information on programs that promote the use of health information technology. Central repository for research findings from projects developing, testing, and using health IT applications.
DHHS Health IT Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Health information technology (Health IT) allows comprehensive management of medical information and its secure exchange between health care consumers and providers.
HRSA Health Information Technology - Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Information Technology site promotes the widespread availability and use of digital networks to improve access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.

Rural Research Resources

Maine Rural Health Research Center
Health Insurance and Uninsured, Long Term Services and Supports, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Mental Health, Substance Abuse
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Medicare, Medicaid and S-CHIP, Healthcare Financing, Health Policy
North Dakota and NORC Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
Health Policy, Health Services, Frontier Health, Workforce
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Health Policy, Medicare, Medicare Advantage (MA), Health Insurance and the Uninsured, Health Services
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Health Disparities, Minority Health, Health Services
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Substance Abuse Treatment, Primary Care, Emergency Department Access
Rural Telehealth Research Center
Telehealth, Health information Technology, Technology
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Health Insurance, Maternal and Child Health, Aging, Diabetes, Substance Abuse
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Quality Measurement and Improvement, Women’s Health, Perinatal Care, Aging, Disability, Social Determinants of Health
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Workforce, Health Services