Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 11 137
Apply for HRSA 11 137
- The Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Health Information Technology Network Development (RHITND) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.912 Rural Health Care Services Outreach, Rural Health Network Development and Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvemen.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 3, 2011 and posted on Apr 27, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 27, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applicants for the RHITND program must meet at least one of the three requirements stated below. (Note An RHITND grant award will be made to only one member of the network that will be the grantee of record and only that organization needs to meet the eligibility criteria) (1) The lead applicant organization must be located in a rural area or in a rural census tract of an urban county, and all services must be provided in a rural county or census tract. To ascertain rural eligibility, please refer to http://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/RuralAdvisor/ and enter the applicant organization s state and county. A network serving rural communities but whose applicant organization is not in a designated rural area will not be considered for funding under this announcement OR (2) The applicant organization exists exclusively to provide services to migrant and seasonal farm workers in rural areas and is supported under Section 330G of the Public Health Service Act (documentation of status as a Section 330G Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers organization must be uploaded as Attachment 8). These organizations are eligible regardless of the urban or rural location of the administrative headquarters OR (3) The applicant is a Tribal government whose grant funded activities will be conducted within their Federally recognized Tribal area (documentation from the federal register should be uploaded as Attachment 7). In addition to the 50 states, applicants may be located in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Territories of the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Compact Free Association Jurisdictions of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. If applicants are located outside the 50 states, they still have to meet the rural eligibility requirements.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rural Health Information Technology Network Development (RHITND) Program is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant opportunity created to help rural health care organizations move beyond simply buying electronic health records (EHRs) and instead reach "meaningful use" of health information technology, as emphasized by the HITECH Act of 2009. HITECH tied Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments to providers and hospitals that use EHRs in a private, secure way to produce real improvements in care delivery. This program is designed to help rural providers meet those meaningful use expectations by strengthening the networks and partnerships they rely on, especially in places where limited staffing, limited capital, and limited technical support can make EHR adoption and effective use much harder.
At its core, RHITND funds rural providers that work together in formal networks, alliances, coalitions, or partnerships. The intent is not to pay for the direct delivery of medical services, but to build the shared infrastructure and coordination needed for quality improvement, better care coordination, and stronger health system performance in rural areas. The program is authorized under Section 330A(f) of the Public Health Service Act (as amended) and aligns with HRSA and HHS priorities around improving access to care, improving quality and outcomes, and strengthening health care systems and public health capacity. A key expectation is that, by the end of the grant, the network will have completed serious strategic planning and business planning and will be positioned to sustain operations after federal funding ends.
The grant is framed as a one-time funding opportunity intended to help networks reach meaningful use standards and complete related health information technology (HIT) work that supports meaningful use. Examples of supported activities include conducting a workforce analysis to understand skills gaps and staffing needs; developing an EHR strategy and broader HIT strategic plan; training staff and providers on EHR use and workflows; purchasing HIT equipment; identifying and selecting certified HIT vendors; and installing or improving broadband capacity, which is often a basic limiting factor in rural settings. The program emphasizes that networks should be able to demonstrate an existing history of collaboration and must have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in place before applying, signaling that the partnership is already organized enough to carry out coordinated work.
The outcomes HRSA anticipates from strengthening rural HIT networks go beyond technology installation. The program is aimed at helping networks achieve economies of scale and cost efficiencies that individual rural providers often cannot reach alone, improving the financial viability of the participating organizations. It is also intended to support professional development and strengthen recruitment and retention by building a more capable and connected workforce. In addition, the network approach is expected to make it easier to share staff and expertise across member organizations, improve the continuum of care across settings, and support continuous quality improvement across the network, ultimately contributing to better coordinated and higher-quality care for rural communities.
Key funding details from the announcement include the following: the funding opportunity number is HRSA-11-137, with an estimated total funding amount of $12,000,000 and an expectation of about 40 awards. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The CFDA listing is 93.912 (Rural Health Care Services Outreach, Rural Health Network Development, and Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement). The opportunity was posted April 27, 2011, with an application closing date of May 27, 2011, and an archive date of July 26, 2011.
Eligibility is structured around the idea that one organization applies on behalf of the network and becomes the grantee of record, and only that lead applicant needs to meet the formal eligibility requirements. Applicants must meet at least one of three pathways. First, the lead applicant organization can qualify by being located in a rural area or in a rural census tract of an urban county, with all services provided in a rural county or census tract (HRSA provides a Rural Advisor tool for confirming this). Second, an organization that exists exclusively to serve migrant and seasonal farm workers in rural areas and is supported under Section 330G can qualify regardless of where its administrative headquarters is located, as long as it documents its Section 330G status. Third, a Tribal government can qualify if the grant-funded activities will occur within its federally recognized Tribal area, with documentation from the Federal Register. Eligible applicants may be located in the 50 states as well as Washington, DC; Puerto Rico; the Northern Mariana Islands; and several US territories and Compact of Free Association jurisdictions, but applicants outside the 50 states must still meet the rural eligibility requirements.
For applicants and networks trying to align proposed work with federal meaningful use and certified technology requirements, the announcement points to federal resources such as the CMS EHR Incentive Programs site and the HHS Health IT standards and certification information pages. HRSA also provided a central contact point through the HRSA Call Center for help accessing the full announcement or resolving application access issues.
Rural Health Information Technology Network Development (RHITND) Program FAQs
1) What is the RHITND Program?
The Rural Health Information Technology Network Development (RHITND) Program is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant opportunity designed to help rural health care organizations move beyond simply purchasing electronic health records (EHRs) and instead achieve "meaningful use" of health information technology, consistent with the HITECH Act of 2009.
2) What does "meaningful use" mean in the context of this grant?
Within this funding description, "meaningful use" refers to using EHRs and related health information technology in a private and secure way that produces real improvements in care delivery. The HITECH Act tied Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments to providers and hospitals that meet these kinds of EHR use expectations.
3) Who is HRSA, and how does this opportunity relate to HHS priorities?
HRSA is the Health Resources and Services Administration. This program aligns with HRSA and HHS priorities around improving access to care, improving quality and outcomes, and strengthening health care systems and public health capacity.
4) What is the main purpose of RHITND funding?
The main purpose is to strengthen rural health care networks and partnerships so participating providers can implement and use health information technology effectively (including work that supports meaningful use). The focus is on shared infrastructure, coordination, and network capacity rather than funding direct clinical service delivery.
5) Is this grant meant to pay for direct medical services?
No. The opportunity is described as not intended to pay for the direct delivery of medical services. Instead, it supports the infrastructure, coordination, and shared capabilities needed for quality improvement and better care coordination across a rural network.
6) What kinds of organizations are expected to participate?
At its core, RHITND funds rural providers that work together through formal networks, alliances, coalitions, or partnerships. One organization applies on behalf of the network as the lead applicant/grantee of record.
7) Does the network need to already exist before applying?
Yes. The program emphasizes that networks should be able to demonstrate an existing history of collaboration and must have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in place before applying.
8) What is an MOU requirement for this program?
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) must be in place prior to applying. This signals that the partnership is sufficiently organized to carry out coordinated work under the grant.
9) What are examples of activities the grant may support?
Examples listed in the announcement include:
- Conducting a workforce analysis to identify skills gaps and staffing needs
- Developing an EHR strategy and broader health information technology (HIT) strategic plan
- Training staff and providers on EHR use and workflows
- Purchasing HIT equipment
- Identifying and selecting certified HIT vendors
- Installing or improving broadband capacity (a common limiting factor in rural areas)
10) Does the program support broadband improvements?
Yes. Installing or improving broadband capacity is explicitly included as an example of a supported activity, reflecting that broadband is often a basic constraint in rural settings.
11) Does the program support purchasing HIT equipment?
Yes. Purchasing health information technology equipment is included as an example of supported work, when it contributes to meaningful use-related HIT objectives for the network.
12) Does RHITND support training and workflow change?
Yes. Training staff and providers on EHR use and workflows is listed as a supported activity, recognizing that effective HIT use requires operational change and workforce readiness, not just software purchase.
13) Is vendor selection an eligible activity?
Yes. Identifying and selecting certified HIT vendors is specifically mentioned as an example of supported activities.
14) What outcomes does HRSA anticipate from strengthening rural HIT networks?
Anticipated outcomes go beyond technology installation and include:
- Economies of scale and cost efficiencies that are hard for individual rural providers to achieve alone
- Improved financial viability for participating organizations
- Professional development and stronger recruitment and retention through a more capable, connected workforce
- Improved ability to share staff and expertise across member organizations
- Improved continuum of care across settings
- Support for continuous quality improvement across the network
- Better coordinated and higher-quality care for rural communities
15) Is RHITND intended to be ongoing funding?
No. The announcement frames this as a one-time funding opportunity intended to help networks reach meaningful use standards and complete related HIT work that supports meaningful use.
16) What is the expectation for sustainability after the grant ends?
A key expectation is that, by the end of the grant, the network will have completed serious strategic planning and business planning and will be positioned to sustain operations after federal funding ends.
17) What law authorizes this program?
The program is authorized under Section 330A(f) of the Public Health Service Act (as amended).
18) What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The funding opportunity number is HRSA-11-137.
19) How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount is $12,000,000.
20) How many awards does HRSA expect to make?
The announcement indicates an expectation of about 40 awards.
21) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant.
22) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
23) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA listing is 93.912 (Rural Health Care Services Outreach, Rural Health Network Development, and Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement).
24) When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on April 27, 2011. The application closing date was May 27, 2011.
25) What does the archive date mean for this opportunity?
The archive date listed is July 26, 2011, indicating the opportunity is archived as of that date in the information provided.
26) How does eligibility work for a network application?
One organization applies on behalf of the network and becomes the grantee of record. Only the lead applicant organization needs to meet the formal eligibility requirements described in the announcement.
27) What are the main eligibility pathways for the lead applicant?
The lead applicant must meet at least one of these three pathways:
- Rural location pathway: The organization is located in a rural area or in a rural census tract of an urban county, and all services are provided in a rural county or census tract (HRSA provides a Rural Advisor tool for confirmation).
- Section 330G migrant/seasonal farmworker pathway: The organization exists exclusively to serve migrant and seasonal farm workers in rural areas and is supported under Section 330G, regardless of where its administrative headquarters is located, as long as it documents Section 330G status.
- Tribal government pathway: A Tribal government is eligible if the grant-funded activities will occur within its federally recognized Tribal area, supported by documentation from the Federal Register.
28) How can an applicant confirm whether a location is considered rural?
The announcement references HRSA's Rural Advisor tool as a way to confirm rural eligibility (including rural census tracts in urban counties).
29) Are organizations in urban counties ever eligible?
Yes, if they are located in a rural census tract of an urban county and all services are provided in a rural county or census tract, as described in the rural location eligibility pathway.
30) Can an organization qualify even if its administrative headquarters is not in a rural area?
Yes, under the pathway for organizations supported under Section 330G that exist exclusively to serve migrant and seasonal farm workers in rural areas, as long as Section 330G status is documented.
31) What documentation is referenced for Tribal government eligibility?
The announcement references documentation from the Federal Register to support that the Tribal area is federally recognized and that grant-funded activities will occur within that area.
32) Where may eligible applicants be located?
Eligible applicants may be located in the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and several US territories and Compact of Free Association jurisdictions. Applicants outside the 50 states must still meet the rural eligibility requirements.
33) Do applicants outside the 50 states have different rules?
The announcement indicates that applicants outside the 50 states may be eligible in certain jurisdictions, but they must still meet the rural eligibility requirements.
34) What federal resources are suggested for understanding meaningful use and certified technology?
The announcement points to federal resources including the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website and HHS Health IT standards and certification information pages.
35) Where can applicants get help or request access to the full announcement?
HRSA provided a central contact point through the HRSA Call Center for help accessing the full announcement or resolving application access issues.
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