Bureau of Health Planning and Resources Management
The Bureau of Health Planning and Resources Management provides leadership to communities in the development of health systems. Activities include technical assistance for community health programs, needs assessment, data management, workforce development and community and state health initiatives. The Bureau is actively represented on a number of state and community commissions, boards, and planning groups and provides federal liaison activities.
Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
The Office of Primary Care and Rural Health assists health care advocates, such as community health centers, with access to care issues affecting the uninsured and vulnerable populations of Delaware. This office works closely with a host of public/private partners to build health care systems by supporting initiatives and partnerships across the state and in rural Delaware. Various capacity studies regarding the supply and distribution of health care providers are completed through the Primary Care Physicians in Delaware Report, the Dentists in Delaware Report, and the Mental Health Professionals in Delaware Report. Data captured in these reports are then used as a basis for shortage designation applications, that, if approved, qualify health care entities located in certain areas for various state and federal resources.
The following two Health Resources and Services Administration grants support the overall work of this office:
- Primary Care Services Resource Coordination and Development/Primary Care Office (PCO) which is jointly funded through the federal Bureau of Primary Health Care and the Bureau of Health Professions.
- State Office of Rural Health (SORH) which is funded through the Office of Rural Health Policy.
State Systems Development Initiative (SSDI)
The State Systems Development Initiative grant is funded through the federal Health Resources Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Program. The purpose of the program is the development of State and community infrastructure that results in comprehensive, integrated, community-based access to care for all children and their families. The grant focuses on data linkages to monitor data sets, identify trends, and implement process improvements for problem areas.
Health Care Provider Recruitment Programs
The Bureau of Health Planning and Resources Management helps recruit health professionals to Delaware through several programs, including the Conrad State 30 / J-1 Visa Waiver Program, the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet), and the State Loan Repayment Program .
Health Resources Board / Certificate of Public Review Program
The Certificate of Public Review Program replaces its predecessor, the Certificate of Need Program. The Bureau of Health Planning and Resources Management provides administrative support to the Delaware Health Resources Board and the Certificate of Public Review Program that it administers, enabling public scrutiny of health care development in the state. Primary responsibilities include the review and processing of CPR applications, the development of a Health Resources Management Plan, and the management and reporting of nursing home utilization statistics to help ensure continuity of health care services with respect to access, quality and cost. Additionally, support is provided in the form of research and support for Board committees and subcommittees, such as the Board’s task forces on charity care and free-standing ambulatory care surgery centers.
Activities subject to Board review include the construction, development or other establishment of a health care facility or the acquisition of a nonprofit health facility; any capital expenditure by a health care facility in excess of $5.8 million; a change in bed capacity that increases the total number of beds by more than 10 beds or more than 10 percent; whichever is less; and, the acquisition of major medical equipment. Legislation signed into law on July 12, 2005 adds continual care communities and any other non-traditional long term care facilities within the purview of the Board’s review. Additionally, the Board oversees a charity care policy for free standing facilities.
The Certificate of Public Review process involves a research and review process set forth in he Delaware Code and public hearings if requested by the Board, facility or the public.
To view the most current Certificate of Public Review statute or for a CPR Application Kit, please see the link below:
For more information, contact the Bureau of Health Planning and Resources Management .
