CONTACT:

Pamela A. Keene

404-656-7645

pkeene@dch.ga.gov   

Georgia Celebrates Rural Health Day on Thursday, November 17

State Office of Rural Health Serves Thousands of Georgians

ATLANTA - (November 16, 2011) - Georgia is joining the nation to celebrate the first annual Rural Health Day, recognizing the contributions of physicians, health care providers and hospitals who provide health care to hundreds of thousands of underserved people in rural areas of the nation. The program is being sponsored by the National Organization of State Rural Health Offices on Thursday, November 17.

The Georgia Department of Community Health's (DCH) State Office of Rural Health (SORH) serves thousands of Georgians. In Georgia, 109 of the state's 159 counties have populations of less than 35,000.

"In many cases, patients would be without health care services in these communities except for the dedicated physicians and health care providers who serve them," said DCH Commissioner David A. Cook. "Even with the advent of telemedicine - to provide access to specialists for consultations and for enhanced care - these physicians and providers are the lifeline to affordable quality health care for these underserved and uninsured Georgians."

In Georgia, more than 2 million people live in rural areas. These people's health care needs are met by dedicated primary care physicians, dentists, hospitals and other health care providers.

"Our mission is far-reaching and significant," said Charles F. Owens, executive director of the SORH. "With the advent of new technologies, including telemedicine and health information technology, this is indeed an exciting time for rural health."

With a budget of more than $7 million provided from federal and state funds, the SORH administers programs to develop financially viable non-traditional regional systems designed to meet the health and service demands of the communities served. The desired outcomes are:

• Improvements in rural health
• A strengthened health care safety net
• The introduction of health care as a strategic industry in Georgia

The SORH provides financial and technical support to select demonstration communities with the leadership and capacity to collaboratively design and implement models that:

• Increase access to integrated health services (physical health, prevention services, behavioral health, etc.)
• Transition to consumer-driven health care
• Encourage regionalization of services so that providers are more financially stable
• Use medical technology to improve health outcomes and efficiency
• Ensure the long-term viability of the state's health care safety net
• Ensure continued job opportunities for employees in new roles that support the innovative health care delivery model, as well as creating a strong workforce of healthy citizens

Throughout the state, there are 66 hospitals located in rural counties. Twenty-seven Federally Qualified Health Centers provide 135 access points for health care.

About the Georgia Department of Community Health

Through effective planning, purchasing and oversight, the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) provides access to affordable, quality health care to millions of Georgians, including some of the state's most vulnerable and underserved populations.

DCH is responsible for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids,® the State Health Benefit Plan, Healthcare Facility Regulation and Health Information Technology in Georgia.

David A. Cook serves as Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Community Health. To learn more about DCH and its dedication to A Healthy Georgia, visit www.dch.georgia.gov.

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The long-anticipated Supreme Court showdown over the health reform law will occur next year, during the heat of the 2012 presidential campaign.

The court announced Monday that it would hear a challenge to the 2010 law, which is President Obama's signature legislative achievement.

Oral arguments are set for March and a decision is expected to be rendered in late June.

While several reform-related challenges have wound through lower courts, the justices will hear the case that has been mounted by 26 states, including Georgia.

In that case, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta struck down the law's requirement for most individuals to purchase health insurance. The 2-1 ruling, though, also upheld the rest of the legislation, including a vast expansion of the Medicaid program that covers the poor and people with disabilities.

To read the entire article click here. 

Ready for a road trip? Check out this discount to network, learn and connect close to home

Who: Georgia residents

What: Discounted road trip rate

Why: Take advantage of a special rate to attend the National Rural Health Association's Rural Multiracial and Multicultural Health Conference Dec. 7 and 8 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

For just $139, you can network with regional and national colleagues and experts during the country's only conference focused on improving health for under-represented rural populations.

At the 17th annual event, you'll discover:

• how to best promote equity and wellness in rural multiracial and multicultural communities
• creative approaches and lessons learned in delivering health services in rural and frontier communities
• how to develop policy and implement programs to improve health access and outcomes
• how to adapt health care initiatives to changing demographics from former U.S. Census Bureau Director Steve Murdock, PhD

Take advantage of this special offer by completing this form. 

Click here for event details and to reserve your room on the beach.
 

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