Rural Obstetrical Access Program

PROGRAM HISTORY/DEVELOPMENT

Established by the Nevada Legislature initially in 1993 then continuously since 1999, medical practitioners, advanced practice nurses/physician assistants whose practices include the delivery of prenatal and/or obstetrical services, are eligible for funding to defray costs of medical malpractice, providing service to women who have financial barriers to care, or education aimed at providing greater quality of care.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Nevada Rural Obstetrical Access Program was created to enhance and expand the prenatal and obstetrical care available to women in rural and frontier Nevada (expanded to urban areas of the state in 2003). Practitioners are eligible to participate if they provide prenatal care to patients who have no access to clinical care due to their financial status, and/or if they maintain prenatal or obstetrical patients in their practice who are uninsured, underinsured or insured by Medicaid, or who use a sliding fee scaled based on a patient’s financial resources when charging for services. Funding provided under this program may be used to offset a portion of the cost of uncompensated care to patients, to offset a portion of the medical malpractice insurance expenses to maintain obstetrical coverage, and/or for enhanced practitioner education in prenatal and obstetrical care to enhance quality of care.

HISTORICAL MILESTONES

• In 2003, the Family and Community Medicine Department of the School of Medicine initiated a prenatal care clinic in Yerington, in partnership with South Lyon Medical Center.

PROGRAM STATISTICS AND OUTCOME MEASURES

Over $900,000 distributed since July 1999

• 28 practitioners and organizations funded since July 1999
• Obstetrical care services sustained in five regional geographic areas

If you are a rural medical practitioner or advanced practice nurse whose practice includes the delivery of obstetrical services, you many be eligible for funding to subsidize some of the costs inherent to providing OB care.

These subsidies can go toward costs due to malpractice insurance, treating women who have financial barriers to care, or education aimed at providing greater quality of care to obstetrical patients.

To be eligible, you must be able to provide assurances that you:

• Completed training in prenatal care which is approved by the University of Nevada School of Medicine;
• Are currently covered by malpractice insurance;
• Accept reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare;
• Will continue to provide prenatal or obstetrical care in the specified county or community for not less than one year from the date of funding.

For additional information contact Keith Clark, (775) 738-3828.