University of Hawaii tackling rural health care with $1M grant

The University of Hawaii has a new research team focused on improving rural health care work statewide.

UH announced last week that a $1 million federal grant enabled the formation of a new UH Rural Health Research &Policy Center, which got set up in September.

The new entity, staffed by a project administrator, principal investigator and two data and policy analysts, is taking on initiatives that initially include trying to improve Medicare payments and making federal designations, such as the Health Professional Shortage Area scoring system, more reflective of Hawaii needs.

“Hawaii faces unique challenges as a non-contiguous state with multiple islands, such as problems with accessing health care for residents especially on neighbor islands, provider shortages and underrepresentation of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the health care workforce,” Aimee Grace, director of the UH System Office of Strategic Health Initiatives and principal investigator at the new center, said in a statement. “While many of these issues impacting rural health in Hawaii are well-known, a critical gap has been translating these challenges into specific policy solutions that are actionable and evidence- based.”

As part of its work, the center will collaborate with other organizations including the Hawaii State Rural Health Association, state Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center.

U.S. Rep. Ed Case made the funding request, which UH said also was championed by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz.

“The need for far more focused action to close Hawaii’s rural health divide has never been so acute,” Case said in a statement. “The University of Hawaii’s new Rural Health Research and Policy Center will play a critical role to address the specific and unique health care needs of Hawaii’s rural communities.”

The grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Serv­ices’ Health Resources and Services Administration will fund the center for one year with core staff, a partnership award with the Hawaii State Rural Health Association for outreach and stakeholder engagement, and subcontracting services as needed to fulfill key research needs, UH said.

To continue center operations beyond an initial year, the staff plans to pursue grants and additional funding opportunities.