Topic: Alaska’s SHARP Program
Re: SHARP Advisory Council: Announcement of Quarterly Business Meeting – 01/16/15
The public is here-notified that the SHARP Advisory Council will meet in its scheduled regular Quarterly Business Meeting on Friday, January 16th, 2015 from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm for the purposes of discussing applications for the SHARP-I opportunity, issuing support-for-service award recommendations, if any, and conducting business of Council and of the program overall.
Details follow:
Purpose: To review and deliberate on clinician-applications, to articulate system values & program priorities, to issue recommendation(s), if any, and to conduct related program business. The related issues may include, but are not limited to, program policies, resources, timelines and other factors that impact the program.
Dates & Time: Friday, January 16th, 2015 from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm (up to 4.0 hrs. & no more)
Locations: Two locations will be used, & linked both telephonically and by videoconference
Anchorage: Frontier Building, 3601 “C” Street, room 880
Directions are available by calling 907- 269-3620
Juneau: Alaska Office Building, 350 Main Street, conference room 115
Directions are available by calling 907-465-3091
Council Attendance: In-person in Anchorage & Juneau (preferred), with videoconference
Alternative: Teleconference: (800) 944-8766, then dial 18105
The public is welcome to attend, however public testimony or input will be taken only during agenda-identified time-slot(s).
The federal grant that helps to fund SHARP-I is from U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, under “State Loan Repayment Program” (SLRP). SLRP provides cost-sharing grants to States to operate their own educational loan repayment programs for primary care providers working in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). SLRP was established in Title III of the Public Health Service Act (1987) & was re-authorized via P.L. 110-355 (2008)
For more information about Alaska’s SHARP support-for-service program overall, see the DHSS website at: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/healthplanning/sharp/ . Robert Sewell, Ph.D., SHARP Program Manager, is available for questions via e-mail at robert.sewell@alaska.gov or by phone 907-465-4065.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation to participate in this process, contact Robert Sewell to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
The purpose of SHARP is to recruit and retain healthcare professionals to serve in DHSS-designated healthcare service shortage areas in exchange for the repayment of qualifying education loans &/or payment of direct incentive, pursuant to a signed SHARP memorandum of agreement with the State of Alaska. The first participants in SHARP began service in June 2010.
The SHARP Advisory Council is a deliberative body composed of 15 voting agencies, with 2 more as ex-officio. A permanent inter-agency advisory body that meets at least quarterly is required by statute (AS 18.29). Council’s voting membership is outlined in state regulation, with the specific members currently including: AK Academy of Physician Assistants, AK Behavioral Health Association, AK Commission on Post-Secondary Education, AK Dental Society, AK Department of Labor, AK Mental Health Trust Authority, AK Native Tribal Health Consortium, AK Nurses Association, AK Pharmacists Association, AK Primary Care Association, AK State Hospital & Nursing Hm Association, AK State Medical Association, National Association of Social Workers - Alaska, United Way of Anchorage, & University of Alaska, College of Health. Ex-officio members include AK Native Health Board, and AK Division of Public Health.
Council identifies and recommends priority healthcare practitioners for award from the extant pool of otherwise eligible applicants. Selected healthcare practitioners sign a multi-year memorandum of agreement (service contract) stating their commitment to serve in identified high-need areas and facilities. Both full-time and half-time FTE are considered. DHSS reserves the right to not accept any or all applications received, &/or recommended by Council, and further, it retains the option to solicit again for more candidates. Program details and an example of the required service contract (MOA) are found at: (http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/healthplanning/sharp/).