Rural Health Workshop Day 2: Wednesday, June 21

• Denaé Hebert, MBA, Executive Director, Louisiana Rural Health Association
• Nicole Coarsey, MPA, Louisiana State Rural Health Officer, Well-Ahead Louisiana

• Kerri Cornejo, MPH, Policy Coordinator, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP)

This presentation will provide information from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. The presentation will provide an overview of what the office does and our role within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The presentation will also provide program and policy updates, including funding opportunities.

• Rochelle Schultz Spinarski, MPA, President and Principal, Rural Health Solutions
• Donney Goutirrez
• Cherry Salter
• Karen Estabrook
• Kate Cook
• Jessie McClellen
• Peggy Millsap

This session will feature the antibiotic stewardship initiatives of the Louisiana Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program and three critical access hospitals (CAHs) in Louisiana. All hospitals in the U.S. are charged with advancing antibiotic stewardship under the leadership of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With support from the Flex Program, three CAHs are taking on the challenge and they will share their work as well as plans for the future.

• Melissa Stainback, PhD, Regional Opioid Coordinator, Imperial Calcasieu Human Service Authority and Office of Public Health
• Traci Hedrick, LAC, Community Service Director, Imperial Calcasieu Human Service Authority

This presentation will address national and statewide shifts in drug overdose trends; new ways of thinking about substance use disorder and evidenced-based treatment models; finally, it will review our local level community strategies and partnerships working to reduce overdose rates and substance use disorder in Southwest Louisiana.

• Billy U. Philips, Jr., Ph.D., M.P.H., Executive Director, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

• Nathan White, President, Newpoint Health & Interim ED of Rough Rider Network
• Ben Bucher, CEO, Towner County Medical Center & Board Chair, Rough Rider Network

Participants will learn how development of a High Value Network, through a Clinically Integrated Network and Shared Services Platform, will create opportunities to strengthen your organization’s performance. At a time when rural independent hospitals and physician clinics are declining, a High Value Network is a model built around collaboration and alignment, which drives Economies of Scale, Population Health Capabilities, and New Payor Strategies. This discussion will include the key characteristics of High Value Networks, areas for partnership and collaboration, how this model is working in other areas of the country, and implications for physician partners—All While Preserving an Independent Model. 

• Ariel P. Santos, MD, MPH, FRCSC, FCCM, Director, Texas Tech Telemedicine Program

This presentation will explain the purpose of the Louisiana Health Equity Consortium housed under the Louisiana Department of Health. It will also explain the connection the Consortium has with the Health Disaprities in Rural Areas Task Force. Karen Wyble will speak on specific work the Task Force has done to mitigate health disparities and future steps they plan to take.

Chair of the taskforce for the resolution, HCR #44, with an intentional focus in mitigating disparities in healthcare in rural Louisiana.

• Theresa Hudson, MPH, Health Disparities Manager, Louisiana Department of Health – Bureau of Community Partnerships and Health Equity
• Karen Wyble, RN, MSN, MHA, MBA, Vice President of Regional Community Affairs, Ochsner Lafayette General

• Patty Harper, RHIA, CHC, Principal Consultant, InQuiseek

This session will demystify Medicare Provider Enrollment by answering common questions about how to enroll different provider types and how to report changes to your Medicare Contractor, state ageny and regional CMS office. 

• Derrick Ramsey, BBA, MEd, Senior Director of Innovative Healthcare Transformations, Program Director, TexLa Telehealth Resource Center

• Carmen Irwin, CMS Dallas Local Engagement and Administration (LEA)

The session will include Medicare updates including policy, pricing, innovation, and agency initiatives. Attendees will hear about updates on the PHE unwinding and the impacts to Medicare program post pandemic.

• Matthew Seaton Community Facility Program Director

The State Director will discuss funding opportunities for rural healthcare providers.