To
help States work with rural communities and hospitals to develop
and implement a rural health plan, designate critical access hospitals
(CAHs), develop integrated networks of care, improve emergency medical
services and improve quality, service and organizational performance.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
All
funds awarded are to be expended solely for the purposes outlined
in the approved projects.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: States that have submitted a State
Rural Health Plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) can apply. All other States need to submit an application
to the Regional Administrator of their CMS Regional Office that
expresses the State's interest in developing a Medicare Rural Hospital
Flexibility Program before they can apply for grant funds.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: States with at least one hospital
located in a non-metropolitan statistical area or county and provides
CMS with necessary assurances.
Credentials/Documentation:
OMB Circular No. A-87, "Cost Principles Applicable to Grants and
Contracts with State and Local Governments," applies.
Pre-application
Coordination: States are required to collaborate
with State Offices of Rural Health, State Hospital Associations,
State EMS Offices, and rural hospitals. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Application Kits can be obtained
by writing to the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) Grants Application Center, 901 Russell Avenue, Suite 450,
Gaithersburg, MD 20879, or by calling toll-free: 1-877-477-2123.
Award
Procedure: Applications are evaluated by Federal
and nonfederal experts. All acceptable applications will be funded.
Final decisions on level of funding are made by the Director,
Office of Rural Health Policy.
Deadlines:
Contact Headquarters Office listed below for deadline dates.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 3 to 5
months.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
None.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: None.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Awards are
made annually. Funds are available to grantees on an as needed
basis throughout the budget period and payments are made through
the DHHS Payment Management System.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
A performance progress report is submitted with each noncompeting
continuation application. A financial status report is to be submitted
within 90 days after the close of the budget period. A final program
report is to be submitted within 90 days after the close of the
project period. In addition, grantees are required to participate
in a national program evaluation.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised,
June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit
Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance
of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a
program-specific audit conducted for that year. In addition, grants
and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits
by DHHS and other Federal government officials.
Records:
Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records for
3 years after the end of the project period. If any litigation,
audit, or other action involving the records has been started
before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall
be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all
issues which arise from it, or until 3-year period expires, whichever
is later.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 75-0350-0-1-550.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $22,793,959; FY 02 est $22,400,000 and FY 03 est
$22,400,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
From $200,000 to $700,000. Average: $484,977.
In fiscal year 2001, 47 continuation awards were made to States.
It is estimated that 47 continuation awards will be made in fiscal
year 2002 and in fiscal year 2003.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Program Guidelines may be obtained by contacting the Headquarters
Office. PHS Grant Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH)
94-50,000, (Rev.) April 1, 1995.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters
Office: Program Contact: Forrest Calico, M.D.,
Health Systems Advisor, Office of Rural Health Policy, Health
Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room
9A-55, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-0835. Grants
Management: Mr. Lawrence Poole, Grants Management Officer, Grants
Management Office, Bureau of Primary Health Care, 4350 East-West
Highway, 11th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814. Telephone: (301) 594-4235.
