State Offices of Rural Health Program

The State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) Program assists states in strengthening rural health care delivery systems by maintaining a focal point for rural health. This program funds an institutional framework in each state that links small rural communities with state and federal resources to help develop long-term solutions to improve access to, and the quality of care for the nearly 60 million people living in rural communities. Key aspects of the program include: • Analyzing the budget • Assessing management systems • Ensuring eligibility • Complying with public policies The program also requires recipients to demonstrate ongoing compliance with HRSA priorities, including gold standard science, program integrity and fiscal stewardship, partnership and local leadership, and advancing evidence-based, merit-driven, and ethically grounded health care. Some of the key responsibilities of the recipients include: • Implementing, acquiring, or upgrading health IT for activities funded by any entity • Using health IT that meets standards and implementation specifications adopted in 45 CFR 170, Subpart B • Implementing, acquiring, or upgrading health IT for activities by eligible clinicians in ambulatory settings, or hospitals, eligible under Sections 4101, 4102, and 4201 of the HITECH Act • Using health IT certified under the ONC Health IT Certification Program if certified technology can support the activity • Reporting progress and annual performance reports • Following the reporting requirements in the “reporting” section of the Application Guide [PDF] • Following program-specific reporting requirements, including SORH performance reporting data collection reporting platform.