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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
 
Program Assessment

Program

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Rural Health Activities

The Rural Health programs award grants to States and public and private entities primarily to support: the development of rural health plans/strategies, the collection of information pertaining to rural health issues, the partnership of health care providers in networks, and demonstration of telemedicine in rural areas.

Rating

What This Rating Means

PERFORMING
Adequate

This rating describes a program that needs to set more ambitious goals, achieve better results, improve accountability or strengthen its management practices.
  • The program is duplicative and redundant of other programs in the Department of Health and Human Services. The Rural Health Task Force identified more than 225 health and social services programs within the Department that address rural needs. Most notable is Community Health Centers, of which 27% are located in rural areas.
  • The major flaw of Rural Health's design stems from the program's authorizing legislation. A less fragmented and more seamless Federal effort could help maximize access, generate effectiveness, yield cost efficiencies, and reduce the number of specific and geographically targeted projects funded each year.
  • The program has long-term measures for which it is gathering data. For example, the program measures: the percentage of critical access hospitals with positive operating margins, and the proportion of rural residents of all ages with limitation of activity caused by chronic conditions.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Developing health and quality-related annual performance measures to demonstrate program accomplishments.

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