HRSA’s Primary Care Workforce Summit

1. HRSA’s Primary Care Workforce Summit Office of Rural Health Policy Grantee Partnership Meeting Michelle Goodman, MAA U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) August 31, 2009

2. Background • HRSA held a national meeting on August 10-12, 2009 in Washington, DC focusing on the challenges rural and urban underserved communities face in attracting and retaining an adequate number of primary care providers. • The meeting was sponsored by: • Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) • Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr) • Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (BCRS) • Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC)

3. Why the need for this Summit? • Demand for primary care services continue to increase. • Unequal distribution of health care professionals to rural and inner-city urban areas. • Rural and inner-city communities continue to struggle to recruit and retain an adequate number of primary care health professionals to provide high-quality care.

4. Participants • This meeting brought together over 500 participants • Some of the participants included: • HRSA Grantees (i.e. SORHs, FQHCs, AHECs) • Researchers • National Associations and Organizations • Foundations • Academic Health Centers • Clinicians • Students

5. Highlights from some of the Sessions • Dr. Edward O’Neil- UCSF: • Current Health Care system is unsustainable, over-managed and under-led • Focusing on the number of providers is in itself a trap • Dr. Lloyd Michener- Duke: • Importance of team and community based approaches to care

6. Highlights from some of the Sessions • Role of Foundations: • Presentations from Dr. Marc Nivet from Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation and Dr. Sue Hassmiller from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. • Foundations have the opportunity to support riskier innovations and models • Massachusetts Model for Health Reform: • Secretary Bigby presented the promises and challenges of health care reform

7. Highlights from some of the Sessions • Payment Reform and GME: • There are many different approaches and models being considered. • Diversity: • Dr. Elena Rios from the National Hispanic Medical Association and Dr. Eve Higginbotham from Morehouse School of Medicine reminded participants of the importance of diversity in the primary care workforce.

8. Highlights from some of the Sessions • Breakout Sessions • NHSC Feedback session • Community Driven Medical Education, AT Stills • Recruitment and Retention • Integration of Oral and Mental Health Services into a Primary Care Setting

9. Key take-aways • Coordinated models of care and primary care teams could improve quality, access and flexibility. • Explore opportunities to make HRSA funding more flexible within existing legislation. • Strengthen the relationship between HRSA and States to improve coordination and data sharing. • Expand NHSC and the SEARCH program.

10. Key take-aways • Importance of training future providers at the community level --- FQHC, RHCs and CAHs • Examine reimbursement levels for all primary care providers • Increased collaboration among Federal programs and initiatives (DOL, DOE and HHS)

11. Participant Feedback • HRSA asked all participants for feedback and comments on what we should be doing now and in the future to address primary care workforce shortages. • Email: Workforcesummit@hrsa.gov • Email address will be active until September 30, 2009

12. Next Steps • Presentations are posted at: www.team-psa.com/workforcesummit2009 • Videos of the Plenary Sessions • Meeting Report

13. Contact Information Michelle Goodman, MAA Public Health Analyst Office of Rural Health Policy mgoodman@hrsa.gov ORHP Web site: http://www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov ORHP Phone Number: (301) 443-0835