Flex Program (Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program)
Rural Health Exchange Program for CAHs
“Peer-to-Peer Mentoring in Rural and Frontier North Dakota”
Sponsored by the North Dakota Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex)
(Federally funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy)
Rural Healthcare Exchange Program Applications Available
The North Dakota Flex Program is offering a new program to provide opportunities for staff serving critical access hospitals (CAHs) of North Dakota to learn from their peers. The Rural Healthcare Exchange Program provides travel support for individuals or small groups to meet with similar entities from other areas of the state and share information, ideas, and successful approaches to improving quality and access to healthcare services.
Who is eligible? The program is open to staff and board members serving North Dakota Critical Access Hospitals. Eligible applicants also include rural non-profit EMS agencies and network representatives serving rural health organizations. The program does not include visits with consultants, conference travel, or support for regularly scheduled meetings or training events.
How does it work? The applicant speaks with a prospective peer mentor to discuss the proposed exchange activity. Applicants may visit a peer mentor in another community or invite the mentor to visit their organization. After an agreement is reached, the applicant submits the Rural Healthcare Exchange Program application to the North Dakota Flex Program.
When can the exchange be scheduled? The North Dakota Flex Program will contact the applicant within 7 business days with an approval or denial of the application. Applicants and exchanges meeting the limitations and criteria defined in the attached instructions will be approved on a “first-come, first-serve” basis. Exchanges must be completed by August 15, 2008.
What happens after receiving the approval? Applicants proceed with their proposed exchange based on the approved application. Following the exchange visit, the applicant submits an invoice, receipts, and a completed outcome report to the North Dakota Flex Program for reimbursement.
Questions? Details about completing an application and a copy of the required outcome report are available in pdf format.
For additional questions or information, please contact:
Marlene Miller, Project Director
North Dakota Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex)
UND Center for Rural Health, 501 N. Columbia Road, Stop 9037,
Grand Forks, ND 58202
Phone: (701) 777-4499 / Fax: (701) 777-6779
E-mail: marlenemiller@medicine.nodak.edu
