Programs

Programs/Projects To Increase Access:

Projects and programs such as the National Health Service Corps, rural health outreach grants, assistance on applying for J-1 visa waivers, a North Carolina project, and other creative solutions are contained in this section.

• http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/outreach.htm  HRSA 3-year rural health outreach grants
• http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/hc_providers/j1visa.php  Rural Assistance Center information on theJ-1 Visa Waiver Program
• http://www.globalhealth.gov/exchangevisitorprogram/  U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services guidance on how to apply for a J-1 visa waiver.
• http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/  National Health Service Corps professional opportunities
• ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/nhsc/factsheets/Information-for-Communities-and-Sites.pdf National Health Services Corps information for communities
• http://www.depression-primarycare.org/clinicians/ MacArthur Foundation Initiative on Depression and Primary Care at Dartmouth and Duke
• http://www.icarenc.org/    North Carolina ICARE projects by psychiatrists, primary care physicians, other mental health professionals and state agenciesDoctors Across New York

Doctors Across New York is a state-funded initiative enacted in 2008 to help train and place physicians in underserved communities in a variety of settings and specialties to care for New York’s diverse population. In October 2008, the New York State Department of Health is expected to release Request For Applications (RFAs) for the Physician Loan Repayment and the Physician Practice Support Programs.

• Brochure for the Physician Loan Repayment and Practice Support Programs
• Request for Application (RFA) for the Physician Loan Repayment Program
• Request for Application (RFA) for the Physician Practice Support Program
• Physician Practice Support Employment Opportunities (Excel Worksheet, 76KB)
• Physician Loan Repayment Employment Opportunities (Excel Worksheet, 57KB)

For more information contact:
NYS Council on Graduate Medical Education
Bureau of HCRA Operations and Financial Analysis or Workforce Development Unit GME@health.state.ny.us
Council on Graduate Medical Education Website.

Articles and Resources

Exciting projects to improve access to medical care are described in these articles.

• American Assn. of Community Psychiatrists, Position on Access to Psychiatric and Psychopharmacology Services in Underserved Areas, 2007.
• Rural Psychiatry Residency Bridges MH Care Gap  
• Can Psychiatrists Be Enticed to Practice in Rural Areas  
• Putting “Rural” into Psychiatry Residency Training Programs  
• Psychiatrists’ Creativity Closes Rural Treatment 
• Rural Psychiatry Isn't Easy, But Rewards are Ample 
• States Address Diverse Issues Affecting Mental health Care.  Psychiatric News.
•  http://www.americantelemed.org/files/public/standards/EvidenceBasedTelementalHealth_WithCover.pdf  Evidence-Based Practice for Telemental Health, American Telemedicine Assn., 2009.
• ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/telehealth/licensure.pdf Telemedicine Licensure Report, Center for Telemedicine Law, 2003.
• ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/telehealth/licen.pdf  Telemedicine Reimbursement Report, Center for Telemedicine Law, 2003
• http://ap.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/reprint/31/6/419   Putting “Rural” Into Psychiatry Residency Training Programs, Academic Psychiatry, Nov-Dec 2007.

Legislation

Examples of state legislation offer proposals on loan repayment, J-1 waiver programs, physician recruitment, tax credits, integrated care projects, and psychiatry development programs.

CALFORNIA
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sbx1_21_bill_20071011_introduced.pdf  Authorizes California personal income tax credits for a medical professional practicing in rural areas

COLORADO 
Authorizing use of telemedicine in mental health services under Colorado Medicaid http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/E43CE26A3A408E228725737D0058E579?open&file=068_enr.pdf  

HAWAII
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/HB2569_.htm   Establishes an integrated behavioral health pilot project in federally qualified health centers on the Island of Hawaii. 

IDAHO
http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2009/S1076.pdf  Establishes “Idaho Conrad J-1 Via Waiver Program” to authorize 30 foreign-trained physicians annually to locate in workforce shortage communities.

IOWA
http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?category=billinfo&service=billbook&GA=82&hbill=HF624 Iowa bill for recruitment and retention of psychiatrists   

INDIANA 
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2009/PDF/HB/HB1214.2.pdf  Creates Indiana public sector psychiatry development program

ILLINOIS
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB0494lv.pdf  Adds Psychiatry to definition of “primary care physician” in Illinois

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0016  Enacted in 2007, Act 95-0016 requires the Illinois Health and Family Services Department to pay psychiatrists and federally-qualified health centers for telepsychiatry ser

MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE
http://tie.telemed.org/labels/telemedicine.html -- How ME and NH Passed Laws Mandating Insurer Payment for Telemedicine

NEW YORK
http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/A4577B  Establishes the NY child psychiatry access demonstration project

PENNSYLVANIA
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2005&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=2987&pn=4723  Establishes child psychiatrist loan forgiveness program in Pennsylvania

SOUTH CAROLINA 
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess116_2005-2006/bills/643.htm Reimburses student loan payments of physicians completing fellowships in geropsychiatry who practice in South Carolina for five years

VIRGINA
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+CHAP0222+pdf     Virginia S.B. 675, enacted in 2010, requires insurers to cover medical services delivered by video or audio conferencing media.

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/03/15/gvbf0315.htm  -- Payment for Telemedicine Required in Virginia