Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 13 246
Apply for HRSA 13 246
- The Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Flex Rural Veterans Health Access Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.241 State Rural Hospital Flexibility Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 3, 2013 and posted on Apr 3, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 17, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only States (Current Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program grantees in States with certified Critical Access Hospitals) are eligible to apply for funding under this solicitation. The Governor designates the eligible applicant from each State. Elig
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Opportunity Summary:
The Flex Rural Veterans Health Access Program (RVHAP) is a competitive grant opportunity run by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), through its Office of Rural Health Policy, to help rural areas improve veterans access to mental health and other health care services by using telehealth and health information technology. The program is tied to FY 2012 appropriations in Public Law 112-74 and is listed under CFDA 93.241. At its core, RVHAP is meant to address a common rural problem: veterans, especially those living far from VA facilities, often face long travel distances, limited provider availability, and gaps in specialty behavioral health care. The grant is designed to test and demonstrate practical technology-enabled solutions that make it easier for veterans in remote communities to connect to appropriate care and to ensure that care is coordinated across VA and non-VA settings.
The program has four main goals. First, it funds the use of telehealth and related health IT to expand access and improve quality for mental health services in rural communities, including crisis intervention and the detection and management of conditions and injuries often associated with recent combat service such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, musculoskeletal issues, and other signature injuries affecting Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans. Second, it emphasizes care coordination by promoting the use of health information technology, including electronic health records, so veterans who receive care from both the VA and private or community providers do not fall through the cracks. Third, it encourages states to expand and strengthen existing rural health networks and coalitions so that access is not limited to one facility or one type of provider; the program explicitly calls out partnerships with critical access hospitals, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, home health agencies, community mental health clinics, pharmacists, local governments, private physicians, and other entities needed to build a functional referral and service network. Fourth, it requires meaningful consultation with key in-state stakeholders such as state hospital associations, rural hospitals, and mental health providers when designing program activities, so the project is grounded in what the local delivery system can realistically support.
A defining feature of RVHAP is its requirement to strengthen coordination between rural health networks and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The announcement highlights that the HHS Secretary is expected to coordinate with the VA under the authorizing legislation, and funded projects must, to the extent possible, facilitate or strengthen connections with VA systems and workflows. In practice, this means projects should not just buy telehealth equipment and run isolated virtual visits; they are expected to build pilots and demonstrations that help rural providers exchange clinical information and coordinate treatment plans with the VA, using electronic communication approaches that are compatible with VA privacy and security requirements. The funding can also support upgrades to existing rural facility software and equipment specifically to help those sites meet VA privacy standards and enable interoperability between VA and non-VA providers.
The primary intended beneficiaries are rural OIF and OEF veterans, but the program is broader than that in two ways. Other veterans in rural areas may also benefit, and the announcement notes a focus on veterans who lack access to services regardless of whether they are enrolled in the VA system. In addition, because the investments are made in rural networks and infrastructure, other rural residents may benefit indirectly from strengthened telehealth capacity and improved local coordination, even though the program focus remains veterans access and VA coordination.
The grant has clear limits on what it will fund. Money cannot be used to duplicate efforts already underway in the state, and it cannot be used to reimburse costs that were already incurred locally for RVHAP purposes. Instead, the expectation is that awardees will implement new or meaningfully expanded activities, especially demonstration or pilot initiatives that show how technology and data sharing can make the VA health system more reachable for veterans who live far from high-quality services.
Eligibility is narrow and state-focused. Only states that are current Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program grantees and that have certified Critical Access Hospitals are eligible to apply, and the eligible applicant is designated by the governor. HRSA planned to make up to three awards under this specific funding notice (Funding Opportunity Number HRSA-13-246). The funding instrument is a discretionary grant, there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, and HRSA serves as the administering federal agency.
Finally, RVHAP comes with ongoing measurement and reporting expectations. HRSA will collect annual performance data and may request additional information over time to track progress toward RVHAP goals and outcomes. Grantees are expected to respond promptly to data requests and to document what they built, how well it worked, and how it improved access, coordination, and service delivery for rural veterans. The program is also positioned within broader federal collaboration efforts between VA and HHS, including initiatives to improve health information exchange and interoperability and to expand community partnerships for timely mental health access, particularly in rural settings.
Flex Rural Veterans Health Access Program (RVHAP) FAQs
What is the Flex Rural Veterans Health Access Program (RVHAP)?
RVHAP is a competitive grant opportunity administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through its Office of Rural Health Policy. It supports rural areas in improving veterans access to mental health and other health care services through telehealth and health information technology (health IT).
Which federal agency runs RVHAP?
HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) administers the program through its Office of Rural Health Policy.
What is the purpose of RVHAP?
The program is designed to test and demonstrate practical, technology-enabled solutions that help rural veterans connect to appropriate care and ensure care is coordinated across VA and non-VA settings. It aims to reduce barriers common in rural communities such as long travel distances, limited provider availability, and gaps in specialty behavioral health services.
What problems is RVHAP trying to solve for rural veterans?
RVHAP targets issues like long travel distances to VA facilities, limited local provider availability, and shortages in specialty behavioral health care. The grant focuses on approaches that can make it easier for veterans in remote communities to access care and avoid fragmentation when services are split between VA and community providers.
What kinds of services does RVHAP focus on?
RVHAP emphasizes mental health services in rural communities and supports telehealth-enabled access and quality improvements. It also includes crisis intervention and the detection and management of conditions and injuries often associated with recent combat service, including PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), musculoskeletal issues, and other signature injuries affecting Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans.
What are the main goals of RVHAP?
The program has four main goals: (1) expand access and improve quality for rural mental health services using telehealth and related health IT, including crisis intervention and care related to PTSD, TBI, and other OIF/OEF signature injuries; (2) improve care coordination through health IT such as electronic health records so veterans receiving care from both VA and community providers do not fall through the cracks; (3) expand and strengthen rural health networks and coalitions through partnerships across multiple provider types and community entities; and (4) require meaningful consultation with in-state stakeholders (such as state hospital associations, rural hospitals, and mental health providers) when designing activities.
How does RVHAP use telehealth and health information technology?
RVHAP funds telehealth and related health IT approaches that help rural veterans access services and improve care quality. It also supports health information tools and electronic communication methods intended to coordinate treatment and share information between VA and non-VA providers in ways that align with VA privacy and security requirements.
Is RVHAP only about buying telehealth equipment?
No. The funding notice emphasizes that projects should not be limited to purchasing equipment and running isolated virtual visits. Projects are expected to develop pilots and demonstrations that strengthen clinical information exchange and care coordination between VA and non-VA settings, including alignment with VA systems, workflows, privacy, and security requirements.
What does RVHAP mean by care coordination?
Care coordination in RVHAP centers on using health IT (including electronic health records) so that veterans who receive care from both the VA and community providers have coordinated treatment plans and better continuity of care, reducing the chance they are missed during referrals, transitions, or multi-provider care.
Does RVHAP require coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)?
Yes. A defining feature of RVHAP is strengthening coordination between rural health networks and the VA. The opportunity highlights expected coordination between HHS and VA under the authorizing legislation, and funded projects must, to the extent possible, facilitate or strengthen connections with VA systems and workflows.
What does it mean for a project to be compatible with VA privacy and security requirements?
RVHAP projects are expected to use electronic communication approaches that are compatible with VA privacy and security requirements when exchanging clinical information or coordinating care between VA and non-VA providers. The funding may also support upgrades to rural facility software and equipment to help meet VA privacy standards and enable interoperability.
Who are the intended beneficiaries of RVHAP?
The primary intended beneficiaries are rural OIF and OEF veterans. The program also notes that other rural veterans may benefit and highlights a focus on veterans who lack access to services regardless of whether they are enrolled in the VA system.
Do veterans have to be enrolled in the VA system to be considered in the program focus?
Not necessarily. The announcement notes a focus on veterans who lack access to services regardless of whether they are enrolled in the VA system.
Can other rural residents benefit from RVHAP-funded work?
Yes, indirectly. Because the investments strengthen rural networks and infrastructure, other rural residents may benefit from expanded telehealth capacity and improved local coordination, even though the program focus remains veterans access and VA coordination.
What types of partnerships does RVHAP encourage?
The program explicitly calls out partnerships with critical access hospitals, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, home health agencies, community mental health clinics, pharmacists, local governments, private physicians, and other entities needed to build a functional referral and service network.
Are states expected to consult with stakeholders when designing the project?
Yes. RVHAP requires meaningful consultation with key in-state stakeholders, including state hospital associations, rural hospitals, and mental health providers, so project activities reflect realistic capabilities and needs within the local delivery system.
Who is eligible to apply for RVHAP?
Eligibility is limited to states that are current Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program grantees and that have certified Critical Access Hospitals. The eligible applicant is designated by the governor.
Is this grant open to individual hospitals or clinics to apply directly?
The opportunity describes eligibility as state-focused: only certain states (current Flex Program grantees with certified Critical Access Hospitals) are eligible, and the applicant is designated by the governor.
How many awards did HRSA plan to make under this funding notice?
HRSA planned to make up to three awards under this specific funding notice.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this RVHAP notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HRSA-13-246.
What is the type of funding instrument used for RVHAP?
RVHAP uses a discretionary grant funding instrument.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What are the funding restrictions or limits mentioned for RVHAP?
The grant funds cannot be used to duplicate efforts already underway in the state, and they cannot be used to reimburse costs already incurred locally for RVHAP purposes. The expectation is to implement new or meaningfully expanded activities, especially pilot and demonstration initiatives.
Can RVHAP funds be used to pay back costs that were already incurred?
No. The opportunity states that funds cannot be used to reimburse costs that were already incurred locally for RVHAP purposes.
Can RVHAP fund activities that are already happening in the state?
Not if they would duplicate efforts already underway. The opportunity states funds cannot be used to duplicate existing efforts in the state and instead should support new or meaningfully expanded activities.
What kinds of projects does RVHAP expect awardees to implement?
RVHAP expects awardees to implement new or meaningfully expanded projects, particularly pilots and demonstrations that show how telehealth and health IT, including data sharing, can make VA-related care more reachable and better coordinated for rural veterans.
Can RVHAP support upgrades to rural facility technology?
Yes. The opportunity notes that funding can support upgrades to existing rural facility software and equipment to help meet VA privacy standards and enable interoperability between VA and non-VA providers.
What reporting or performance measurement is required?
HRSA will collect annual performance data and may request additional information over time. Grantees are expected to respond promptly to data requests and document what was built, how well it worked, and how it improved access, coordination, and service delivery for rural veterans.
What is the CFDA number associated with RVHAP?
The program is listed under CFDA 93.241.
What is the legislative or appropriations basis mentioned for RVHAP?
The opportunity is tied to FY 2012 appropriations in Public Law 112-74.
How does RVHAP fit into broader federal VA and HHS collaboration?
RVHAP is positioned within broader collaboration between VA and HHS, including efforts to improve health information exchange and interoperability and to expand community partnerships for timely mental health access, particularly in rural settings.
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