Rural Health Network Development Planning Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (HRSA Network Planning Grant)

1) What is the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program?

The Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (often called the Network Planning grant) is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding opportunity that supports rural communities in organizing and planning an integrated health care network. It is designed for places where local providers and service organizations have not previously worked together in a formal, structured way.

2) What is the main purpose of this grant?

The grant primarily supports a one-year planning period focused on building the foundation of a network. The goal is to establish relationships, collaboration infrastructure, and a clear direction so rural partners can later move into implementation work with stronger coordination, reduced duplication, improved efficiency, and better response to community health needs.

3) Is this an implementation grant or a planning grant?

This opportunity is positioned as a planning grant. While the expectation is to produce concrete deliverables that prepare the network to act after the planning year, it is not described as funding full-scale implementation.

4) How long is the planning period supported by the grant?

The program primarily supports a one-year planning period.

5) What does HRSA mean by a "rural health network" in this program?

In this program, a rural health network is an organizational arrangement that includes at least three separately owned local or regional health care providers working together toward shared service-delivery goals.

6) What is the minimum number of required network partners?

The network must include at least three separately owned local or regional health care providers.

7) What are examples of eligible health care providers that could form a network?

A typical example could include a critical access hospital, a community health center, and a public health department. The key requirement described is that the core network includes at least three separately owned health care providers aligned around shared service-delivery goals.

8) Can non-clinical organizations be part of the network?

Yes. HRSA recognizes the value of broader community partnerships. Networks can include social service agencies, mental health organizations, faith-based groups, charities, schools, employers, and local government entities, as long as they contribute to improving the community health system.

9) Why does the program emphasize working as a network in rural areas?

The program is built on the idea that small rural providers can often do more together than they can on their own. By aligning strategies, sharing resources, and coordinating services, partners can reduce duplication, improve efficiency, strengthen sustainability, and respond more effectively to community health needs.

10) How does this program relate to changes in the US health care system?

The opportunity is positioned within the broader shift from paying for volume to paying for value. It highlights pressures and opportunities tied to health reform and market changes, including expanded coverage in rural areas, increased demand for services, quality-linked payment incentives (such as penalties for avoidable readmissions and hospital-acquired conditions), and emerging care models like Accountable Care Organizations and Patient-Centered Medical Homes.

11) What rural challenges does this planning program aim to help address?

The description notes challenges including rural hospital financial instability, service loss, workforce shortages, and the need to modernize technology. HRSA is using the planning program to help rural providers adapt by organizing regional systems of care that preserve local control while ensuring access to a full continuum of services.

12) What types of health services are considered within the "continuum of services" referenced by the program?

The opportunity describes a continuum ranging from prevention and wellness through acute care and long-term care, with emphasis on ensuring patients can access the full spectrum through coordinated regional systems of care.

13) Do applicants have to select a specific planning focus area?

Yes. Applicants are required to choose one primary focus area for their planning work.

14) What are the two primary focus areas applicants can choose from?

The two options are: (1) Population Health, and (2) Alleviating Loss of Local Services and Access to Care.

15) What kinds of topics fall under the Population Health focus area?

Planning under Population Health may center on care coordination, patient engagement, data analytics and health information technology, and closer alignment between physicians/other providers and hospitals.

16) What kinds of topics fall under the Alleviating Loss of Local Services and Access to Care focus area?

This focus area targets issues such as rural hospital closure or conversion, hospitals that are financially at risk, strengthening sustainable emergency medical services (EMS), and expanding telehealth.

17) Why does the program require a single primary focus area?

The structure is intended to keep planning efforts targeted and practical, rather than trying to solve every issue at once.

18) Beyond the focus area, what additional requirement applies to planning activities?

Applicants must propose planning activities that support at least one of three legislative aims described in the opportunity.

19) What are the three legislative aims applicants can address?

The three aims are: (1) Achieve efficiencies, (2) Expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of essential services, and (3) Strengthen the rural health care system as a whole.

20) What are examples of planning activities under Aim 1: Achieve efficiencies?

Examples listed include conducting community and provider needs assessments; identifying the most critical threats to partner viability; recruiting additional partners; developing workforce plans; mapping financial resource gaps; updating health information technology plans; coordinating with charitable hospitals on implementation strategies tied to community health needs assessments; and designing regional systems of care to better meet patient needs.

21) What are examples of planning activities under Aim 2: Expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of essential services?

Examples listed include developing a business or operations plan; creating governance structures; putting MOUs or MOAs in place; defining roles, bylaws, and decision-making processes; assessing readiness to share clinical or administrative resources; exploring readiness for Patient-Centered Medical Home accreditation; developing a community communication strategy about changes in the health care environment; planning an expanded EMS role; and creating access strategies for communities that have already lost a hospital or face potential closures.

22) What are examples of planning activities under Aim 3: Strengthen the rural health care system as a whole?

Examples listed include strengthening cross-organizational collaboration and leadership commitment; assessing network sustainability; identifying new opportunities to address population health needs; building community buy-in; developing broadband leverage strategies to support health IT (including connections to FCC and USDA broadband-related programs); and preparing transition plans to maintain seamless access to care if a hospital closes or converts.

23) What kinds of deliverables does HRSA expect at the end of the planning year?

While specific required deliverables are not listed as a formal checklist in the description provided, the expectation is that grantees will produce concrete outputs that position the network for future action. Examples mentioned include clear priorities, governance, operational plans (such as business/operations planning), readiness assessments, and stakeholder commitments (such as MOUs/MOAs and leadership commitment).

24) Does the program encourage evidence-based planning approaches?

Yes. The opportunity signals a preference for planning approaches grounded in evidence-based frameworks.

25) Does the program value innovation or approaches other rural communities could replicate?

Yes. The opportunity indicates a preference for innovation or creative problem-solving that other rural communities could potentially replicate.

26) What administrative expectations are placed on the applicant organization?

The applicant organization must be capable of managing federal grant funds and provide real organizational accountability for the project. HRSA expects the applicant to direct grant-funded activities, hire and supervise grant-funded staff, and demonstrate solid administrative and accounting systems.

27) Does the applicant need to have staff in place at the time of award?

Yes. The applicant must have at least one permanent staff member in place at the time of award.

28) Does the applicant organization need an EIN?

Yes. The applicant must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

29) Who administers this funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is administered by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

30) What type of grant is this, and what is the CFDA number listed?

The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant. The CFDA number listed is 93.912.

31) How many awards were anticipated in the original posting referenced?

The original posting referenced anticipated 24 awards for the 2016 cycle.

32) What was the application due date for the cycle referenced in the description?

For the referenced 2016 cycle (HRSA-16-017), applications were due January 8, 2016.

33) What is the opportunity number mentioned for the referenced cycle?

The referenced opportunity number is HRSA-16-017.