Project Grant UY447058

RURAL NORTHERN BORDER REGION HEALTHCARE SUPPORT PROGRAM ABBREVIATION:: N/A - APPLICANT: RURAL HEALTH REDESIGN CENTER ORGANIZATION, INC. 625 FORESTER ST. FL 8 HARRISBURG, PA 17120-0701 WWW.RHRCO.ORG 501C3 NON-PROFIT DUNS: 117873025 PROJECT OFFICER: GARY ZEGIESTOWSKY RHRCO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GZ@RHRCO.ORG (615) 347-2748 AMOUNT REQUESTED: 1,800,000 PER YEAR CONSORTIUM MEMBERS: 1. RURAL HEALTH REDESIGN CENTER ORGANIZATION, INC. 2. NEW ENGLAND RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION 3. RURAL HEALTH VALUE 4. STROUDWATER ASSOCIATES 5. WELLNESS EQUITY ALLIANCE PROPOSED PROJECT: SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE RURAL HEALTH REDESIGN CENTER ORGANIZATION, INC. (RHRCO) HAS SUPPORTED THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RURAL HEALTH MODEL (PARHM), AN ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT MODEL AIMED AT TRANSFORMING TO A VALUE-BASED HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN RURAL PENNSYLVANIA. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS ROLE INCLUDE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND RECRUITMENT, FACILITATING THE PARHM TO MAINTAIN COLLABORATION ACROSS ALL STAKEHOLDERS, AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) TO RURAL HOSPITALS EMBARKING ON THIS VALUE-BASED JOURNEY. SINCE 2019, THE RHRCO HAS ASSISTED EIGHTEEN RURAL HOSPITALS WITH THE PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF 116 GOALS RELATED TO IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE, INCLUDING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, EMPLOYING CARE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES, REDUCING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT UTILIZATION AND MORE ALL WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF VALUE-BASED DELIVERY AND INNOVATION. THE RHRCO BELIEVES THAT MUCH OF THIS WORK IS TRANSLATABLE TO RURAL COMMUNITIES BEYOND PENNSYLVANIA AND SEES A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES TO THE NORTHERN BORDER REGION THROUGH THE TERMS OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. UPON SELECTION OF SERVICE AREA COMMUNITIES AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN COOPERATION WITH HRSA AND THE NBRC, THE RHRCO AND PROPOSED CONSORTIUM MEMBERS WILL IDENTIFY THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH COMMUNITY THROUGH A COMBINATION OF DATA ANALYTICS AND READINESS FOR CHANGE ASSESSMENTS. THE CONSORTIUM IS PREPARED TO OFF ER TA USING EXTENSIVE, TAILORED APPROACHES WHERE NECESSARY, IN ADDITION TO BROADER TACTICS SUCH AS ONE-DAY TRAINING EVENTS, WEBINARS, OR WORKSHOPS. FOR COMMUNITIES NEEDING EXTENSIVE TA SERVICES, THE CONSORTIUM WILL WORK ALONGSIDE PROVIDERS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOLS, LIKE THOSE UTILIZED IN THE PARHM, WHICH OUTLINE ACTION-STEPS, TIMELINES, AND METRICS TO SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISH IDENTIFIED GOALS GEARED TOWARD THE AREAS OF COMMUNITY NEED. THE CONSORTIUM WILL THEN PROVIDE COACHING, TRAINING, SUPPORT OF FUNDING ACTIVITIES, PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, AND ADDITIONAL SERVICES, AS NECESSARY, TO ASSIST WITH THE PURSUIT OF THESE GOALS. A RESOURCE HUB AND SHARED-LEARNING PATHWAYS WILL ALSO BE ESTABLISHED FOR FREE USE BY ALL PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS. TO ASSIST WITH THE PROJECT'S EXECUTION, RURAL HEALTH VALUE AND STROUDWATER ASSOCIATES HAVE JOINED THIS CONSORTIUM, BOTH BEING PRIOR COLLABORATORS ON THE PARHM. WHILE RURAL HEALTH VALUE HAS EXPERTISE IN TRANSITIONS TO VALUE-BASED CARE, STROUDWATER ASSOCIATES IS A RURAL HEALTH FINANCE EXPERT HEADQUARTERED IN MAINE WITH EXTENSIVE INSIGHTS INTO THE RURAL HEALTH SECTOR ACROSS ALL NORTHERN BORDER REGIONS. THE NEW ENGLAND RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION HAS ALSO JOINED TO ASSIST WITH THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY SELECTION PROCESSES LEVERAGING THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE REGION. LASTLY, THE WELLNESS EQUITY ALLIANCE HAS JOINED AS A CLINICAL PARTNER EXPERIENCED IN IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY NEEDS THROUGH DATA DRIVEN APPROACHES, DRIVING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, AND ENHANCING ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUD SERVICES. THESE CONSORTIUM MEMBERS HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND EACH POSSESS UNIQUE SKILLS THAT QUALIFY THEM TO PROVIDE TA IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. UPON FUNDING, THESE PARTNERS WILL LEVERAGE THEIR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE AND WORK IN CLOSE COLLABORATION TO FORM A COHESIVE UNIT CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF THE RURAL NORTHER