192.604. Office established--powers and duties--report to general assembly and governor, when. - Missouri Statutes

Office established--powers and duties--report to general assembly andgovernor, when.

192.604. There is hereby established in the department of health andsenior services an "Office of Rural Health". The office of rural health,under the supervision of the director of the department of health and seniorservices, shall assume a leadership role in working or contracting with stateand federal agencies, universities, private interest groups, communities,foundations, and local health centers to develop rural health initiatives andmaximize the use of existing resources without duplicating existing effort.The office shall provide a central information and referral source and serveas the primary state resource in coordinating, planning and advocating for thecontinued access to rural health care services in Missouri for the poor, theuninsured, the underinsured, the medically indigent, maternity, newborn, childcare and for the elderly. The office shall:

(1) Educate the public and recommend appropriate public policiesregarding the continued viability of rural health care delivery in Missouriand the quality and cost-effectiveness of such care and identify conditionsobstructing or hindering that delivery of essential health care services torural Missouri;

(2) Monitor and work with state and federal agencies to assess theimpact of proposed rules and regulations on rural areas, streamlineregulations to assist in the development of service diversification of healthcare facilities, and target state and federal programs to rural areas;

(3) Promote and develop diverse and innovative health care servicemodels in rural areas;

(4) Encourage the use of advanced communications technology to provideaccess to speciality expertise, clinical consultation and continuingeducation;

(5) Assist rural health care providers, communities, and individuals inapplying for public and private grants and programs;

(6) Disseminate information and provide technical assistance tocommunities, health care providers, and individual consumers of health careservices;

(7) Report to the federal Office of Rural Health Policy concerning itsactivities and cooperate with rural health research centers established by thefederal Office of Rural Health Policy;

(8) Biennially report its activities and recommendations to the governorand members of the general assembly on or before November fifteenth ofodd-numbered years.

(L. 1990 S.B. 765 § 12)

(Expiration date of 8-28-95 was repealed, L. 1995 S.B. 299)