Health Resources and Services Administration

Description

This announcement solicits applications for the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program (¿Network Planning¿). The purpose of the Network Planning program is to assist in the development of an integrated healthcare network, if the network participants do not have a history of collaborative efforts. The program can help to promote the planning and development of healthcare networks in order to: (i) achieve efficiencies; (ii) expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of essential health care services; and (iii) strengthen the rural health care system as a whole. This program brings together key parts of a rural health care delivery system, particularly those entities that may not have collaborated in the past under a formal relationship, to work together to establish and improve local capacity and coordination of care. This grant program supports one year of planning with the primary goal in helping networks create a foundation for their infrastructure and focusing member efforts to address important regional or local community health needs. For purposes of this grant program, a rural health network is defined as an organizational arrangement among at least three separately owned regional or local health care providers that come together to develop strategies for improving health services delivery systems in a community. For example a critical access hospital, a community health center and a public health department could come together to form a network around a shared purpose. Networks can include a wide range of community partners including social service agencies, faith-based organizations, mental health agencies, charitable organizations, educational institutions, employers, local government agencies or other entities with an interest in a community¿s health care system. In applying for this funding, the applicant needs to explain how their proposal incorporates elements of health care redesign, with a focus on transforming the health care delivery into a patient and value-driven system. This includes but is not limited to supporting the current healthcare landscape to improve outcomes, reduce costs, ensure access and efficient transitions of care and promote innovative approaches. Successful applicants can use their one-year grant funds for planning activities that must support at least one of the specific aims: Aim #1: Achieve efficiencies The network will focus on identifying ways to achieve better system efficiencies and improve regional and/or local rural health care services. Planning activities may include, but are not limited to: Conducting community health and/or provider needs assessments at the regional and/or local level: develop and implement a needs assessment in the community; identify the most critical need of network partners to ensure their viability; identify additional potential collaborating network partners in the community/region; identify workforce issues; and identify financial resources or gaps available to support services Conducting a Health Information Technology readiness assessment Aim #2: Expand access to, coordinate and improve the quality of essential health care services The network will focus on ways to build capacity and a network infrastructure that enables entities to coordinate care and increase access to care for rural communities. Planning activities may include, but are not limited to: Developing a network business and/or operations plan, which could include: A formal memorandum of agreement or understanding (MOA/MOU); A shared mission statement; A network/governance board or some sort of decision making structure; A set of network bylaws; The roles and responsibilities of the network partners; and A business model Developing a network strategic plan that establishes the network¿s priority areas, goals and objectives Identifying the degree to which the network members are ready to integrate their functions, share clinical and/or administrative resources Aim #3: Strengthen the rural health care system as a whole Network members will focus on ways to enhance community and partner relationships to promote involvement and participation in network planning activities. Planning activities may include, but are not limited to: Identifying ways to encourage cross-organizational collaboration and leadership commitment; Assessing the network¿s sustainability and viability; Identifying opportunities for the network to better address regional and/or local population health needs; and Identifying and establishing ways to obtain regional and/or local community support/buy-in around the development of the network

Who can apply

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Others

Contact

Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA Grants Application Center, 910 Clopper Road, Suite 155 South, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878<br/>CallCenter@HRSA.GOV<br/>
CallCenter@HRSA.GOV