What challenges or gaps in care are you focused on?

Ensuring access to care remains in rural communities for essential services, approaching this from new funding mechanisms that provide stability as well as incentives to focus on value of care, not volume of care.

What initiatives are you currently spearheading to improve health?

Retention of providers in rural communities through alternative payment arrangements,  coupled with clinic strategies for things such as substance use treatment, chronic disease management, and other operational needs of rural health providers.

What necessary collaborations/partnerships have you established within and/or outside of your organization in developing your initiatives?

Strong partnership with third party payers, including Medicare, as well as State agencies such as Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Department of Education, Department of Labor and Industry, the USDA and other community-based entities. 

What is your measurement criteria for success/or current measurable improvements have you realized from the initiative? 

Measurements of success are improved financial viability of rural hospitals, population health process measurements, and total cost of care guardrails.  The hospitals within our program are more financially viable with the program then without it as demonstrated by operating margins, and the process metrics measured within our program are equal to or better than other non-participant rural communities, and the same is true of PMPM beneficiary spend.  We have managed the program within the total cost of care guardrails as established for our work.

What gives your hope for the future in health care?

My hope comes from being able to show through our demonstration project that meaningful change can happen when there is a will to make it happen.  I think the crisis is rural healthcare has reached the point where it can no longer be ignored, and that with continued focus, policy makers can be educated and will make reasonable policy decisions to solidify the retention of services in rural communities.  Change is incredibly difficult, but I’m hopeful that we can make a difference.