Rural Health Research Gateway

Analysis of 2004-2005 State Flex Grant Plans

Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Research centers: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 207.780.4430
Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 612.624.6151
Lead researcher: Andrew F. Coburn, PhD
Contact: John A. Gale, MS, 207.228.8246, jgale@usm.maine.edu
Project completed:January 2005
Topics: Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
Emergency medical services (EMS)
Networking and collaboration
Quality

As part of the Flex Monitoring Team's ongoing work to monitor state level Flex program activities, the University of Southern Maine and the University of Minnesota will collaborate to analyze and synthesize the states' annual state Flex program plans. The research team for this project will analyze state Flex grant applications and related budget and work plan revisions using a data extraction template. The analysis will focus on state activities in the core Flex program areas of networks, quality improvement, and EMS. The data collected through this process will be useful to individual members of the Flex Monitoring Team in conducting their research activities, such as the EMS special study. A briefing paper will be produced highlighting trends in the development and implementation of state Flex programs. This paper will summarize the range of activities undertaken by all participating states across the core Flex Program goals and highlight interesting activities and initiatives (e.g. EMS, QI, Networks) from select individual states. This paper will be useful not only to state level Flex stakeholders who are interested in the activities of other state Flex Programs but also to national stakeholders who are interested in an easily accessible summary of the Flex Program.

Publications

  • Review of State Flex Program Plans, 2004-2005
    Author(s): Stephenie Loux, John Gale, Anush Yousefian, Andrew Coburn, Walter Gregg
    Report Number: Flex Monitoring Team Briefing Paper No. 10
    Date: 03 / 2006
    Examines the objectives and project activities proposed by states in their Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program) grant applications for Fiscal Year 2004 to strengthen the rural healthcare infrastructure in their states. Highlights recent trends in State Flex Program planning, development, and implementation. Report produced by the Flex Monitoring Project, funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy.