Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Rural Health Policy Annual Report, 2005

摘要

The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) coordinates rural health policy issues within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In FY 2005, ORHP administered 13 grant programs with a focus on capacity building at the community and State levels. While located within the Health Resources and Services Administration, the office has a department-wide responsibility to analyze the impact of departmental policy on rural communities. ORHP is both a policy and programmatic resource for rural communities. The offices policy role is created by Section 711 of the Social Security Act, which charges the office with advising the Secretary on rural health issues. In that role, the office examines issues such as the effects of Medicare and Medicaid on rural citizens access to health care, specifically on the viability of rural hospitals and the availability of rural physicians. The offices programs also provide funding at both the community and State levels to support improved rural health care delivery. Through its community-based programs, the office supports projects that improve access to health care services, encourage network development among rural health care providers, enhance delivery of emergency medical services and place and train people in the use of automatic external defibrillators.