Chapter 978 Oregon Laws 2001
AN ACT
HB 2515
Relating to funding for
access to rural health care; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
For the biennium beginning July 1, 2001,
the Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall transfer to the Oregon
Rural Health Association 11.2 percent of the moneys remaining in the Medicaid
Upper Payment Limit Account established in section 1, chapter 405, Oregon Laws
2001 (Enrolled Senate Bill 963), after the department has transferred to the
Oregon Health and Science University public corporation the amount required in
section 2, chapter 800, Oregon Laws 2001 (Enrolled Senate Bill 5536), and has
transferred to the Department of Education for the State School Fund the amount
required in sections 5 and 6, chapter 890, Oregon Laws 2001 (Enrolled
Senate Bill 5514).
SECTION 2.
(1) From moneys received under section 1
of this 2001 Act, the Oregon Rural Health Association shall award Rural Health
Viability Grants to promote improved health care services and increased access
to quality health care in rural areas of this state. Only rural health care
providers may apply for a Rural Health Viability Grant. An applicant seeking a
Rural Health Viability Grant shall submit a written application to the
association on the form specified by the association.
(2) The association may
award to rural health care providers grants that promote any of the following
goals:
(a) Replacement or
renovation of aging rural hospitals.
(b) Modernization of
capital equipment.
(c) Preservation of
access to local health services in rural areas through short-term support of
vulnerable rural health care providers.
(d) Expanded community
health educational opportunities.
(e) Incentives for the
development of long-term, sustainable approaches to providing improved health
care services and increased access to quality health care in rural areas.
(f) Collaborative
approaches that sustain access to quality rural health care.
(g) Expanded or
sustained health care for financially and physically vulnerable rural
populations.
(h) Operational support
for rural health centers that are not federally qualified health centers.
SECTION 3.
Notwithstanding any other law, the
amount of $15,000,000 is established for the biennium beginning July 1, 2001,
as the maximum limit for the transfer of moneys by the Oregon Department of
Administrative Services to the Oregon Rural Health Association under section 1
of this 2001 Act.
SECTION 4.
This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act
takes effect July 1, 2001.
Approved by the Governor
August 16, 2001
Filed in the office of
Secretary of State August 16, 2001
Effective date August 16,
2001
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