Frequently Asked Questions

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About State Offices of Rural Health

  • What makes Colorado Rural Health Center unique
    The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) is unlike any other State Office of Rural Health, with its unique formation as not only a nonprofit, but also as a member-based association. The earliest association on record in the Unites States was the New York Chamber of Commerce, formed in 1768 by a group of merchants.  At the heart of associations is the sense of working together on a common cause.  Associations can form for any number of reasons; serving a variety of purposes and providing a range of services or products for members. The CRHC, originally called the Colorado Rural Health Resource Center (the Center), was created by members of the Colorado Rural Health Consortium.  The Consortium was a group of major health agencies, state legislators, and concerned individuals who began meeting in August 1990 to develop a plan for addressing Colorado's rural health issues. The Consortium members determined that Colorado needed a focal point for addressing rural health concerns.  With funding from the federal Office of Rural Health Policy, The Consortium was awarded $43,000 in the fall of 1991. One year later the Colorado Rural Health Resource Center opened for business.  Approximately six months later, the Consortium members became the "membership" of the Center.
  • What is the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
    The work of the SORHs is strengthened through the State Rural Health Coordination and Development Cooperative Agreement between ORHP and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH). This program enhances the rural health infrastructure in each State by supporting leadership development and partnerships of the State Offices of Rural Health, other state entities and partners at the national   at the national and State levels to improve the exchange of information and engage in collaborative activities for supporting rural health. Read more
  • Functions of a State Office of Rural Health
    State Offices of Rural Health support a wide range of activities, depending on the needs of their state.  In nearly all states the Critical Access Hospital Flex program is based in the State Office of Rural Health.  State Offices of Rural Health may support quality improvement networks, loan repayment programs, annual rural health conferences, regular rural health updates, information or technical assistance for grant writing, support for rural health clinics or emergency medical services. Read more
  • What is a State Office of Rural Health
    The State Offices of Rural Health Grant (SORH) Program creates a focal point within each State for rural health issues. The program provides an institutional framework that links communities with State and Federal resources to help develop long-term solutions to rural health problems. The SORH program was developed in 1991 as a Federal-State partnership.  It features a single grantee from each State and requires a State match of $3 for each $1 in Federal funding and has leveraged in excess of $250 million in State matching funds. Currently, 37 Offices are located in State health departments, 10 in academic settings and 3 in non-profit organizations.  Read more

Membership Questions

  • Who should become a member of CRHC
    Membership is for hospitals, clinics, students and other small organizations. Not sure if your facility is a current CRHC member?  Review the membership list.  For more information about the benefits of membership, click here.
  • How do I determine what membership level to purchase
    Membership rates are based on number of full-time employees (FTEs).  For organizations with multiple sites, only one membership is necessary under the parent organization for total number of FTEs across all sites.  For example, a Critical Access Hospital with two affiliated Rural Health Clinics would total the number of FTEs across all three sites and pay that membership rate, earning membership for all three facilities.
  • What’s the difference between a prorated and full year membership and sponsorship

    For first time members or sponsors (or former members/sponsors whose membership has lapsed more than a year) that join CRHC after July 1, the membership/sponsorship dues will be calculated at half the yearly rate for the remainder of the year. To be eligible for prorated rates your organization must not have been a member or sponsor in the prior calendar year.

  • I’m having trouble logging in to my account
    If you are having trouble logging into your account to access member only resources and information, try creating a new password.  Don’t know your facility’s login? Contact web@coruralhealth.org or call 303.832.7493.  Once your membership status is confirmed, you will be granted access and sent login credentials.
  • How long does my membership last
    Membership is active for the calendar year, from join date through December 31.  Those joining after July 1 will be charged the prorated membership fee.  Organizations renewing their membership must pay the full yearly rate.

Rural Health Clinics

  • How to Become a Rural Health Clinic
    Assuming the prospective clinic site meets location and staffing requirements for federally certified Rural Health Clinics, the RHC certification process can take anywhere from 4 to 6 months or longer. The certification wait-time should not discourage prospective clinics from seeking RHC certification as this affords time to prepare the clinic space for survey. The Colorado Rural Health Center provides comprehensive support services specifically designed to assist providers through the entire RHC certification process. For more information contact CRHC at: 303.832.7493 or toll‐free from rural Colorado 800.851.6782 or email at info@coruralhealth.org
  • Why are Rural Health Clinics Important
    Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) are an essential source of outpatient primary healthcare services across the country and especially in rural Colorado. As of August 2014, there were 51 certified RHCs in the state. In some cases RHCs are the only source of outpatient primary care located in a rural county or community.
  • What is a Certified Rural Health Clinic
    Once certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), RHCs receive enhanced (cost- based) Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for the services they provide. Even though the greatest financial benefit to RHCs is the enhanced reimbursement, RHCs provide healthcare services to the privately insured as well as the uninsured and underinsured. RHCs can be certified under one of two designations: 1) provider-based, meaning they are affiliated with a hospital or other healthcare entity; or 2) independent/freestanding, which means the RHC is privately owned and operated. While there are many healthcare entities that make up the healthcare safety net in Colorado, RHCs differ from Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), also known as Community Health Centers, in a variety of ways. The main similarity between these two healthcare delivery systems is that they are both federally designated programs. There are differences, however, in regards to how the federal government administers these programs. Notably, RHCs provide care in non-urbanized areas, which have been designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) or Medically Underserved Areas (MUA), while FQHCs provide care in both urban and rural areas that have been designated as MUAs or Medically Underserved Populations (MUP). This sheet summarizes the major differences between RHCs and FQHCs.