Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program

The Kentucky Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (KRHFP/Flex) is under the auspice of the Kentucky State Office of Rural Health (KSORH), which is housed within the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence for Rural Health (UK CERH) located in Hazard, a rural area in the Appalachian Mountains of southeastern Kentucky. The vision of the KRHFP is to help sustain access to appropriate healthcare services of high qualify in rural communifles by strengthening and improving the rural healthcare infrastructure. Since the incep~on of the Flex Program in 1999, the KSORH and the KRHFP have partnered with the Kentucky Hospital Associabon and together they hold annual statewide stakeholders meelings and periodic on-site visits to consult with hospital administrators and staff on the most appropriate uihizafion of grant funds. The KRHFP is committed to working with partners who share the same activifies and values. The KRHFP partners include but are not limited to, KY Hospital Association, KY Primary Care Association, Ky' Department of Public Health, KY Area Health Education Centers, KY Board of Emergency Medical Services, Murray State and Eastern and Western Universities. The goals of the KRHFP are: Development and Implementation of Rural Health Networks Support of existing CAHs and Eligible Hospitals Improvement and Integration of EMS Services Improving Quality of Care 2 200903061634