Our Mission:
"To coordinate, plan, and advocate for improved health for Michigan's rural residents and communities."
Our Vision:
"The Michigan Center for Rural Health will be universally recognized as the center for expertise for rural health in Michigan through creative and visionary education, service and research."

 

News & Current Events
7/15/08

Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program
This program encourages the development of new and innovative health care delivery systems in rural communities that lack essential care services. The emphasis of the grant program is on service delivery through collaboration, requiring the grantee to form a consortium with at least two additional partners. Click here for more details.

4/16/08

CMS Proposes To Expand Quality Program For Hospital Inpatient Services In FY 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed additional steps to strengthen the tie between the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries and payment for the services provided when they are in the hospital. To read the full article, click here.
3/26/08 Rural Hospitals Challenged
Port Huron Times Herald, (MI) article discusses the benefits to patients that choose treatment in rural hospitals, but changes at the state and federal levels are making it more difficult for rural hospitals to pay all their bills. To read the full article, click here.
3/19/08 CAHs' Experiences With MA Plans
A new joint issue brief is available from the RUPRI Center and the Walsh Center: Critical Access Hospitals' Experiences With Medicare Advantage Plans. Findings from this survey of 60 CAH administrators identify concerns that, as the Medicare Advantage program evolves, may be addressed through technical assistance and changes in regulation or legislation. Please click on the following link to download this brief: http://www.unmc.edu/ruprihealth/Pubs/CAH_Experiences_with_MA_Plans.pdf
3/5/08

FCC, USDA Launch Rural Broadband Web Site
Government Technology reports that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of a new, online resource for those in rural America looking to bring the benefits of broadband services to their communities. Click here for more details.

3/4/08 Study examines rural physician training efforts, urges broad adoption
Article Abstract: Six medical school programs designed to increase the ranks of rural physicians could be nationally replicated to more than double the number of graduates who choose to practice in rural areas across the next decade, according to a study published in the March issue of Academic Medicine.
Click here to read the article.
10/17/07

Congressman Ellison Introduces Non-Governmental & Volunteer Firefighter, Ambulance & First Responder Bill
On October 12, 2007, Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) introduced HR3822, a bill which would extend the federal public safety officer (death) benefits from governmental police and fire to include non-governmental and volunteer firefighters, ground and air ambulance crew members, and first responders. If passed, the federal death benefit would be extended to the currently ineligible families of hospital-based, non-profit and independent fire, ambulance and first responder personnel killed in the line of duty.

The bill is supported by the American Ambulance Association, National Association of EMTs, National EMS Management Association, Association of Air Medical Services, International Association of Flight Paramedics, Mountain Rescue Association, Kansas EMS Association, California Ambulance Association, North Dakota EMS Association, Minnesota Ambulance Association, Arkansas EMT Association, Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin, Wyoming Ambulance and Emergency Medical Services Association, EMS Association of Colorado, Michigan Association of EMTs, Arizona Ambulance Association, Arkansas Ambulance Association, Vermont Ambulance Association, Michigan Association of Ambulance Services, Louisiana Rural Ambulance Alliance and the United New York Ambulance Network. Attached is a one-page briefing paper from the associations describing the effort.

US House members may become cosponsors of the legislation by contact Congressman Ellison’s office at (202) 225-4755.

The bill text can be accessed by going to the http://thomas.loc.gov/, type HR3822 in the search box, click Bill Number below the search box and then click on Search. For more information, click here.
07/17/06

PCP Survey
If your county is up for HPSA renewal, it will be helpful to review the MDCH PCP tool. Reviewing the tool will allow you to accurately reply to the MDCH phone surveyer when he/she calls. It is important to provide accurate information; we also recommend you designate one person in your office to reply to the phone survey (such as a practice manager). Click the Recruitment & Retention link at left to review the survey. Understanding the scope of the questions will allow you to provide the most accurate information.