About TASC

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, a nationwide initiative that established the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) as a new category of hospital eligible for cost based Medicare reimbursement.

The Technical Assistance and Services Center (TASC) supports the work of the state offices of rural health and other healthcare organizations by providing technical assistance, information, and process tools to rural communities.

TASC is funded by the Health Resources and Service Administration's Office of Rural Health Policy and administered by the Rural Health Resource Center, a private, non-profit organization.


Terry Hill
Executive Director
Tami Lichtenberg
Program Manager


Melissa Grindahl
Program Specialist
Summer Fosdick
Program Coordinator


Kate Stenehjem
Information Specialist

Technical Assistance and Services Center
600 E. Superior Street, Suite 404
Duluth, MN 55802
218-727-9390, Fax: 218-727-9392
E-Mail: tasc@ruralcenter.org

Advisory Committee Members
Steve Hirsch, Project Officer
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy 		John Barnas, Chair
Michigan Center for Rural Health
Larry Baronner
Pennsylvania State University 		Byron Crouse
UW School of Medicine and Public Health
Dale Gibbs
Good Samaritan Hospital, Outreach and Telehealth Services 		Lance Keilers
Ballinger Memorial Hospital, Texas
Dan Manz
Vermont Office of EMS & Injury Prevention 		Marlene Miller
Center for Rural Health, University of North Dakota
Ira Moscovice
University of Minnesota 		Bill Sexton
Providence North Coast Service Area
Brock Slaback
National Rural Health Association 		Kip Smith
Montana Health Research and Education Foundation
Jeff Spade
North Carolina Rural Health Center and North Carolina Hospital Association 		John Supplitt
American Hospital Association
Gary Wingrove
Gold Cross Ambulance