1. 22 nd Annual Rural Health Policy Institute Deputy Administrator, HRSA Marcia K. Brand, PhD January 24, 2011

5. HRSA and the Affordable Care Act HRSA is identified as the lead for more than 50 provisions in Affordable Care Act. There are 16 provisions where HRSA has been identified as a key partner with other agencies.

6. Addressing Key Challenges Improving Health Insurance Coverage Expanding the Rural Workforce Supporting the Rural Infrastructure Improving Public Health Improving Quality The Affordable Care Act and Rural America

7. Improving Health Insurance Coverage Challenges for rural America More dependant on individual market Small businesses as key employer Around one quarter of all rural adults are uninsured. Heavy Dependence on Public Programs The Affordable Care Act and Rural America

8. Improving Health Insurance Coverage Challenges for rural America Coverage for Adult Dependents Pre-Existing Condition Plans Premium Tax Credits Small Business Tax Credits Health Insurance Exchanges

9. The Affordable Care Act: Expanding the Rural Workforce Health professions education and training Reauthorizes the National Health Service Corps Teaching health centers Redistribution of unused residency slots

10. Rural Payment Extensions Increase Payments for Rural Physicians Hospitals Primary Care Physicians General Surgeons Expansion of the 340B Program The Affordable Care Act Supporting the Rural Infrastructure

11. The Affordable Care Act Supporting the Rural Infrastructure Community health centers $9.5 billion over 5 years will create new health centers in medically underserved areas; expand preventive and primary health care services at existing sites

12. Public Health and Prevention Fund ₋Community prevention initiatives ₋Building the public health infrastructure ₋Expanding public health research and training The Affordable Care Act Improving Public Health

13. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Accountable Care Organizations The Affordable Care Act Improving Quality

14. Health Information Technology A Key Step in Improving Quality Challenges for rural providers … A focus on rural HIT issues within HHS ₋Changes in meaningful use to address rural concerns ₋ Creation of the HHS Rural HIT Task Force New investment in rural HIT networks Key partnerships with USDA and FCC

15. “Within the total amount requested for Rural Health activities, the Budget includes $73 million for a new "Improve Rural Health Care" Initiative to strengthen partnerships among rural health care providers, recruit and retain rural health care professionals, and modernize the health care infrastructure in rural areas.” The Improving Rural Health Initiative

16. The Improving Rural Health Initiative Key Elements  Health Workforce Recruitment and Retention  Building a Programmatic “Evidence-Base”  Telehealth/HIT Coordination  Cross Governmental Collaboration

17. Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project Rural appropriate measures Regional, State, and National benchmarking Informed quality improvement strategies

18. Thank you to our Key Partners! National Rural Health Association Rural Health Research Centers Rural Health Resource Center National Association of Rural Health Clinics National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health National Center for Rural Health Works Rural Recruitment and Retention Network National Cooperative of Health Networks