There are four primary subjects used to group data. Demographic information shows maps depicting frontier counties, non-metropolitan counties, poverty, and minority population. Health resources displays health professional shortage areas, primary care physician to population ratios, and the location of non-metropolitan hospitals. Health status offers data on mortality rates, low birth rates, heart disease, and other health status measures. A picture can be worth a thousand words as it can help decision makers and community members see more easily and readily how the local area compares with neighboring counties, at the state level, and even nationally.
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Now that states are in the process of submitting their State Rural Health Plans to the Health Care Financing Administration for review and approval, it is an opportune time to learn more about the new limited service hospital program. As part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Congress established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program for all states. The statute calls for states to develop rural health plans that provide for the creation of one or more rural health networks, promotes regionalization of health services, and improves access for rural residents. The report offers a brief history of prior limited service hospital models, explains the requirements for the new program, discusses the conversion process to a CAH, examines potential challenges and opportunities that states will likely face, and provides case studies based on prior conversion programs including the lessons learned. Item order number is 184-152.