Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) and Flex Program

The State Office of Rural Health develops, evaluates, and administers this federal program that provides states the opportunity to strengthen rural health care through a holistic approach.

The federal government awards grants to states that allow them to work with rural communities to meet these goals:

Designate and support Critical Access Hospitals

Foster rural network development

Assist with healthcare quality improvement efforts

Integrate and improve rural emergency medical services

Program Documents

CRNA Pass-Through Exemption
Access to Capital Programs
Critical Access Hospital Replacement Resources
Effective Collaboration Between CAHs and FQHCs
Idaho Flex Program Strategic Plan, December 2009
Flex Case Study Overview FY09
Flex Grant Award Map
2008 Idaho Flex Planning Report
Idaho Critical Access Hospital Map
CAH Study on Financial Impacts of Long-Term Care

Case Studies:

Orofino Case Study Report 2011
Cottonwood Case Study Report 2011
Emmett Case Study Report 2010
Soda Springs Case Study Report 2010
Malad Case Study Report 2009
Salmon Case Study Report 2009
Bonners Ferry Case Study Report 2008
Preston Case Study Report 2007
McCall Case Study Report 2007
Kellogg Case Study Report 2006
Montpelier Case Study Report 2006

Flex Meeting 2010:

          Flex Grant Summary
          Flex Meeting Overview
          The Power Triad: Board, Leadership, and Medical Staff
          Changing Community Perceptions: Strategies for Reversing Outmigration
          Medicare Multi-State QI Project and 340 B Pharmacy Pricing
          HIMSS Analytics: Health IT Trends and Glimmers
          Meaningful Use for Providers and Critical Access Hospitals
          Panel Discussion- Medicaid
            Panel Discussion- Washington Idaho Regional Extension Center (WIREC)
          Panel Discussion- Idaho Health Data Exchange (IHDE)
          Panel Discussion- Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON)
Flex Meeting 2009:

Flex Grant Summary
Flex Meeting Overview
Flex Planning Session
Flex Planning Session Framework
Elmore Medical Center Grant
HITECH and HIPAA
Noridian Medicare Part A Education

State Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
450 W. State St. – 4th Floor
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0036
Phone: 208-334-0669
Fax: 208-332-7262
E-mail: RuralHealth@dhw.idaho.gov

External Resources

Area Health Education Center
This a link to the Idaho Area Health Education Center web page.

This a link to the Idaho Area Health Education Center web page.
CMS Critical Access Hospital Center
This is a link to the C M S Critical Access Hospital Center web page.

This is a link to the C M S Critical Access Hospital Center web page.
eHealth Initiative
The eHealth Initiative has partnered with MedPlus, the healthcare information technology subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics, to release the results of the first survey to benchmark the influential role regional extension centers (RECs) are playing in electronic health record (EHR) adoption.

The eHealth Initiative has partnered with MedPlus, the healthcare information technology subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics, to release the results of the first survey to benchmark the influential role regional extension centers (RECs) are playing in electronic health record (EHR) adoption.
EMS Toolkit
This is a link to help EMS agencies determine the "cost of turnover".

This is a link to help EMS agencies determine the "cost of turnover".
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
This is a link to the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy web page.

This is a link to the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy web page.
Federally Qualified Health Centers in Idaho
This is a link to the Idaho Primary Care Association's web page containing a map of Federally Qualified Health Centers in Idaho.

This is a link to the Idaho Primary Care Association's web page containing a map of Federally Qualified Health Centers in Idaho.
Health Literacy
A "how-to" guide to help Web managers and health professionals to: * write clear, actionable health content; * design user-friendly web sites, and * reach audiences with limited literacy skills and web experience.

A "how-to" guide to help Web managers and health professionals to: * write clear, actionable health content; * design user-friendly web sites, and * reach audiences with limited literacy skills and web experience.
Health Literacy Toolkit
This toolkit is designed to help make your written materials easier for people to understand and use.

This toolkit is designed to help make your written materials easier for people to understand and use.
Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Designation Eligibility Criteria
This is a link to the Health Resources and Services Administration web page listing Health Professional Shortage Area designation criteria.

This is a link to the Health Resources and Services Administration web page listing Health Professional Shortage Area designation criteria.
Health Workforce Information Center
This is a link to the Health Workforce Information Center web page.

This is a link to the Health Workforce Information Center web page.
HRSA Community Health Status Indicators
This link compares county health indicators to the US and peer counties.

This link compares county health indicators to the US and peer counties.
Idaho Hospital Association
This is a link to the Idaho Hospital Association web page.

This is a link to the Idaho Hospital Association web page.
Idaho Medical Association
This is a link to the Idaho Medical Association web page.

This is a link to the Idaho Medical Association web page.
Idaho Primary Care Association
This is a link to the Idaho Primary Care Association web page.

This is a link to the Idaho Primary Care Association web page.
Idaho Rural Health Association
This is a link to the Idaho Rural Health Association web page.

This is a link to the Idaho Rural Health Association web page.
Idaho Rural Outreach
This is a link to the Idaho Rural Outreach web page.

This is a link to the Idaho Rural Outreach web page.
Mountain States Group
This is a link to the Mountain States Group web page.

This is a link to the Mountain States Group web page.
MUA/MUP Areas of Idaho
This is a link to the Health Resources and Services Administration's web page with a search tool for locating Medically Underserved Areas and Populations.

This is a link to the Health Resources and Services Administration's web page with a search tool for locating Medically Underserved Areas and Populations.
National Health Service Corps
This is a link to the National Health Service Corps web page.

This is a link to the National Health Service Corps web page.
National Rural Health Association
This is a link to the National Rural Health Association web page.

This is a link to the National Rural Health Association web page.
National Rural Health Clinic Association
This is a link to the National Association of Rural Health Clinics web page.

This is a link to the National Association of Rural Health Clinics web page.
Noridian Administrative Services
This is a link to the Noridian Administrative Services web page.

This is a link to the Noridian Administrative Services web page.
Northwest Regional Primary Care Association
This is a link to the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association web page.

This is a link to the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association web page.
Qualis Health
This is a link to the Qualis Health web page.

This is a link to the Qualis Health web page.
Rural Assistance Center
This is a link to the Rural Assistance Center's web page for the state of Idaho.

This is a link to the Rural Assistance Center's web page for the state of Idaho.
Rural Health Research Centers
This is a link to the Rural Health Research Centers web page.

This is a link to the Rural Health Research Centers web page.
Rural Physician Incentive Program
Rural Physician Incentive Program

Rural Physician Incentive Program
Stratis Health
Toolkits provided by Stratis Health who is working to advance e-health and health information technology (HIT) across the settings of care.

Toolkits provided by Stratis Health who is working to advance e-health and health information technology (HIT) across the settings of care.
U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is offering health providers patient guides in Spanish or English on a variety of health topics.

The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is offering health providers patient guides in Spanish or English on a variety of health topics.
USDA - Idaho Rural Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development local Idaho Chapter.

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development local Idaho Chapter.
Veteran's Crisis Line