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HRSA-24-002
Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration

General Information

Document Type:Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number:HRSA-24-002
Funding Opportunity Title:Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
Opportunity Category:Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Funding Instrument Type:Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity:Health
Category Explanation:https://grants.hrsa.gov/2010/Web2External/Interface/FundingCycle/ExternalView.aspx?fCycleID=8914864c-23b4-4fa8-8f7e-52b6de283a7c
Expected Number of Awards:45
Assistance Listings:93.241 -- State Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:No
Version:Synopsis 1
Posted Date:Jan 17, 2024
Last Updated Date:Jan 17, 2024
Original Closing Date for Applications:Apr 16, 2024
Current Closing Date for Applications:Apr 16, 2024
Archive Date:
Estimated Total Program Funding:$ 30,000,000
Award Ceiling:$0
Award Floor:$0

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants:Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
State governments
Additional Information on Eligibility:States are eligible to apply for funding under this notice, including states that are current Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program award recipients under HRSA-19-024 or states submitting a new application from a Governor designated entity. HRSA will accept only one application from each state. The Governor designates the organization that may submit an application on behalf of each state.

Additional Information

Agency Name:Health Resources and Services Administration
Description:This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program. The purpose of the Flex Program is to enable states to support critical access hospitals (CAHs) in quality improvement, quality reporting, performance improvement and benchmarking; to assist facilities seeking designation as CAHs; and to establish or expand programs for the provision of rural emergency medical services (EMS). The Flex Program aims to provide training and technical assistance to build capacity, support innovation, and promote sustainable improvement in the rural health care system. The overall goal of the Flex Program is to ensure that high quality health care services are available in rural communities and aligned with community needs. Health care services include appropriate preventative, ambulatory, pre-hospital, emergent, and inpatient care. High quality rural health care will deliver high value to patients and communities and result in healthier rural people. The long-term objectives of the Flex Program are to enable CAHs, including CAH-owned clinics, and rural EMS agencies to: • Show and improve quality of care; • Stabilize finances and maintain services; • Adjust to address changing community needs; and • Ensure patient care is integrated throughout the rural health care delivery system. State Flex funding for this period of performance will act as a resource and focal point to address needs and demonstrate outcomes in the following five program areas with priority for quality, financial and operational improvement in CAHs, and supporting rural hospitals converting to CAH status. We recognize that the healthcare landscape is changing rapidly, with focus being placed on value-based care and alternative payment models. We encourage states to develop projects supporting innovative models of care, as appropriate, and place them in the following program areas: • Program Area 1: CAH Quality Improvement (required) • Program Area 2: CAH Financial and Operational Improvement (required) • Program Area 3: CAH Population Health Improvement (optional) • Program Area 4: Rural EMS Improvement (optional) • Program Area 5: CAH Designation (required if assistance is requested by rural hospitals) For more details, see Program Requirements and Expectations.
Link to Additional Information:
Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
Lseifert@hrsa.gov