    |
|||||
Central California Rural Roundtable Highlights Check out CSRHA's vlog highlighting rural health issues most important to the CCRR participants! Fresno, CA - The California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) hosted its 1st Central California Regional Rural Roundtable of 2009 on April 2-3 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Fresno. Co-hosted by the Valley Health Team, Inc., and sponsored by The California Endowment, Anthem/Blue Cross, and Wulff, Hansen & Co. Attendees represented a number of different rural healthcare safety-net and service industry providers, which provided for invigorating discussion on a breadth of issues impacting Central Valley communities. A new addition to the traditional rural roundtable format was a special afternoon session on low cost alternative financing for health centers by Wulff, Hansen & Co., called Concept to Completion: Designing and Financing Your Future Growth. The roundtable agenda featured presentations on several urgent topics, such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Andrea Baker of thel California Workforce Investment Board explained how the stimulus package funding will be spent in California and how the Collaborative and California’s Workforce Investment Boards can work with the health care industry on collaborative projects. View Ms. Baker's ARRA powerpoint presenation here. Speranza Avram of Speranza Avram Associates, Health Resources Development, discussed the available ARRA funding for Health Information Technology, and led a focus group on Rural Health Distance Learning Needs. Attorney Regina Boyle discussed the potential cuts to Medi-Cal Optional Benefits, the largest of these being adult dental, and what this means for health centers providing these services. Regina's very informative presentation can be downloaded here. We were also honored to have Dr. Joan Voris, Associate Dean at UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program and Bryn Forhan, Co-Chair, of the Valley Coalition for UC Merced Medical School, speak about their experience in Healthcare Workforce Development and the creation of the UC Merced Medical School. Veiw Dr. Voris's presentation here. In addition to these presentations, Roundtable participants shared information in an open forum, and had the opportunity for a question and answer session with Assemblymember Juan Arambula. “This is one of the benefits of our Roundtables,” adds CSRHA Executive Director, Desiree Rose. “Local constituents have the opportunity to speak directly to their assembly members and their staff about specific needs and concerns.” Assemblymember Arambula described some of the recent improvements that he has supported in helping Californians and those in the Central Valley, in the areas of healthcare and workforce development. An example is the recent passage of the reduction in COBRA premiums for those who are unemployed, as well as a new bill to allow California State Universities to offer doctorates in nursing, helping them become a valuable part of the healthcare workforce pipeline. Arambula ended his participation at the Roundtable by explaining his vision of a healthy Central Valley. “In order for people to be healthy they need a good job. They need to be able to afford healthcare. They need good drinking water. I take abroad view of health and am interested in the underlying conditions that create good health, especially in the San Joaquin Valley,” he said. For those who couldn’t attend, here are the Power Point presentations for three valuable presentations: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for WIBs
|
|||||
