Flex Program

The Rural Hospital Medicare Flexibility Program, as well as rural health in general, is affected by new legislation, changing legislation, and rural health policy. Find information on legislation and policy affecting rural health and the Flex program including analysis, regulation and legislative language.

Flex Program Communication Toolkit

Toolkit Guide for Use & Contents
The Technical Assistance and Services Center of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program has provided this Communication Toolkit to help State Offices of Rural Health and State Flex Programs tell the Flex Program story to hospitals and other stakeholders. It is designed as a springboard for your communications efforts and to be modified to fit your needs - do not use these samples or templates "as is."

CAH Fact Sheet
A brief overview of what defines a Critical Access Hospital.

CAH Talking Points
A brief overview of how Critical Access Hospitals began.

Communications Planning
Communications planning is the process of focusing the right messages on the right audiences at the right time. Organizations communicate to inform, persuade, prevent misunderstandings, present a point of view, or to reduce barriers. A plan will ensure efficient and effective communication that fits the resources of the organization.

Crisis Communications
A plan for crisis or risk communication is a vital component of your organization's overall communications plan. Coordinate your plans with the efforts of existing bioterrorism units and your state's division of emergency management.

Sample Employee Newsletter Article
A Critical Access Hospital sample employee newsletter article about new outpatient diagnostics.

Sample News Release: New Outpatient Diagnostics
This sample news release template can be used to communicate new outpatient diagnostics.

Sample Op-Ed Newsletter
This template can be used as an Op-Ed newsletter to communicate about CAHs and their local economic impact.

Flex Fact Sheet
A sample fact sheet about the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program.

Sample Flex Presentation
This is a presentation template in Microsoft Powerpoint that allows you to use the information about the Flex Program and insert your own data along with it.

Flex Year Round Plan
This is a document that can help you organize and chart your year-round plan with the Flex Program on a month by month basis.

Hospital Year Round Plan
This is a tool that can help your hospital organize a year-round plan on a monthly basis.

The Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program

Tools

State Flex Program Evaluations: A toolset to create or modify state Flex Program evaluations
Author(s): Rochelle Schultz Spinarski
This presentation is a tool to help Flex coordinators create or modify their State Flex Evaluation Plan.

Flex Grant Guidance
This is a link to tools, information and resources on the Flex grant guidance and the EMS supplement.

CAH Flex Provisions
The Medicare Prescription Drug Bill was passed in 2004. This bill includes a number of Flex and CAH-related provisions. This document is a listing of those provisions. It is not intended to be an official read, only an initial overview.

Medicare Prescription Drug Act
This act amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a voluntary program for prescription drug coverage under the Medicare Program, to modernize the Medicare Program, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction to individuals for amounts contributed to health savings security accounts and health savings accounts, to provide for the disposition of unused health benefits in cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements, and for other purposes.

Flex Program Communication Toolkit

  • Briefing - Communication Tactics
    One important step in the communication process is determining which vehicles you will use to reach your target audiences. Given your objectives and the resources available, select the tactics that will most effectively impact your audience.
  • Briefing - Target Audience Development
    Sample Audience Matrix for SORH Flex Program. This document outlines:
    Who are the people in this audience? Why do you want them to know about your program or organization? What's important to them, what do they value?
  • Resource List
    A brief list of other resources applicable to the Flex Program.
  • Sample Briefing: Key Message Development & Target Audiences
    This document contains some sample briefing messages you can deliver to targeted audiences about the Flex Program.
  • Sample News Release: New Physician
    This news release template is to be used to communicate new physician services at the hospital.
  • Sample News Release Distribution List for the State Flex Program
    Most State organizations have a public relations or communications department to aid in the development of a list and methods for distribution of news releases and publicity for the Flex Program. The following list suggests a starting point for further development.
  • Sample News Release Distribution List for Participating Hospitals
    Many hospitals have a public relations or communications contact person to aid in the development of a list and methods for distribution of news releases and publicity for the Flex program. This document list suggests a starting point for further development.
  • Sample News Release on CAH Designation
    This news release can be used as a template when sending out information about a CAH designation.
  • Working with the Media Briefing
    Communicating with the media is a core component of communications and public relations for any organization. It is particularly important for the reputation and public support of governmental and nonprofit organizations to be open and available for the media. The responsibility lies with your organization to nurture and maintain positive media relationships.

Resources

Flex Monitoring Team Report No. 15: State Initiatives Funded by the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program (October 2007)
Author(s): Flex Monitoring Team
To understand the accomplishments of State Flex Programs, members of the Flex Monitoring Team asked Flex Coordinators to identify and discuss their states' three most successful initiatives in the past two years. Interviews were conducted during February 2007 with Flex Coordinators and State Office of Rural Health staff (SORH) in all 45 states.

2006 National Flex Conference of State Flex Programs Presentations

Center For Rural Health Policy Analysis
Includes a document on the Medicare Modernization Act legislation and other related regulations.

The State Flex Program at 10 Years: Strengthening Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Communities (April 2007)
This report outlines the priorities and accomplishments of the State Flex Programs over the past ten years.