Rural Health Network Development Program | Apply Online

The Rural Health Network Development Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) focused on strengthening how health care is organized and delivered in rural communities. It supports rural providers working together in structured, formal networks to expand access to essential services, improve care coordination, and improve quality of care in rural areas.

The core purpose is to help rural health care organizations collaborate through formal networks and build shared infrastructure and coordinated systems. The program is designed to improve both (1) the viability and stability of the individual providers in the network and (2) the delivery of care experienced by the rural communities served by the network.

No. This program is described as funding the behind-the-scenes work that helps rural systems function better, rather than funding direct patient care. Examples include shared administration, clinical coordination, technology integration, and financial planning across multiple organizations.

A formal rural health network is a partnership such as a network, alliance, coalition, or similar collaborative arrangement that brings together multiple independent organizations to operate more effectively as a group. Under this opportunity, the partnership must include at least three separately owned entities and must be documented through signed agreements.

To qualify as a network under this opportunity, the partnership must include at least three separately owned entities.

Each participating member must sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA), or a similar document, that clearly confirms the relationship and commitments within the network. HRSA indicates it is looking for networks where members demonstrate a strong and measurable commitment.

The program supports capacity-building and infrastructure work that strengthens rural health system operations across multiple organizations. The opportunity description highlights shared administration, clinical coordination, technology integration, and financial planning. It also emphasizes strategic planning and business planning as expected accomplishments by the end of the grant period.

HRSA highlights anticipated outcomes including:

• Economies of scale and reduced costs through shared administrative functions
• Improved overall financial viability for network members
• Strengthened workforce recruitment and retention
• Shared staff and expertise across members
• Improved continuum of care and smoother transitions between services
• Expanded support for underinsured and uninsured populations
• Improved access to capital and modern technologies
• Continuous quality improvement across participating providers
• Improved ability to adapt to rapid financial, regulatory, technological, or clinical changes

The program focuses on building durable operating models that can continue after federal funding ends. HRSA emphasizes creating shared workflows, governance, financing approaches, and shared tools that can be maintained through earned revenue, member contributions, payer arrangements, or other long-term supports.

By the end of the grant period, a successful network is expected to have completed thorough strategic planning and business planning, to be able to clearly explain the network's value to member organizations and the local community, and to have a credible sustainability strategy to continue operating and maintaining improvements after grant funds end.

In this context, viability refers to improving the stability and long-term sustainability of the rural providers that make up the network. The opportunity notes that rural settings often face thin margins and workforce shortages, and the grant is intended to help stabilize operations through shared infrastructure and coordinated planning.

Eligibility is geared toward rural, mission-driven organizations capable of serving as the applicant and anchor for a broader network. The applicant must be a public or private non-profit entity located in a rural area, and it must apply on behalf of a formally organized network composed of at least three separate existing organizations.

The applicant must apply on behalf of a formally organized network. The opportunity describes the applicant as serving as the applicant and anchor for a broader network arrangement.

Yes. The eligibility description specifies that the network must be composed of at least three separate existing organizations (and that they must be separately owned entities).

No. For the announcement cycle described, there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

The Funding Opportunity Number is HRSA-11-089.

The opportunity uses a grant as the funding instrument.

The program is associated with CFDA number 93.912 (Rural Health Care Services Outreach, Rural Health Network Development, and Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement).

For the cycle described, the estimated total funding was $4,500,000 with an expected 25 awards.

• Original posting date: August 26, 2010
• Closing date (updated): November 18, 2010
• Archive date: January 17, 2011

HRSA indicates it is looking for networks where members show strong and measurable commitment and where there is a real track record of collaboration and progress that fits the network's stage of development. The network should be more than a paper partnership and should be able to demonstrate meaningful coordination.

The opportunity highlights economies of scale and cost reduction through shared administrative functions. It also notes the value of sharing staff and expertise across member organizations, which can improve efficiency and address limited specialized personnel in rural areas.

HRSA lists strengthening workforce recruitment and retention as an anticipated outcome, and it also highlights sharing staff and expertise across network members as a strategy that can be particularly valuable where specialized personnel are limited.

In the context provided, improving the continuum of care refers to making care more coordinated across services so patients experience smoother transitions between services. The grant supports the coordination and systems work that helps providers function as an integrated network.

The opportunity specifically mentions technology integration as an example of the behind-the-scenes work the program funds, and it also lists improved access to modern technologies as an anticipated outcome for networks.

Adaptability is described as being positioned to respond effectively to rapid changes in the health care environment, including changes that are financial, regulatory, technological, or clinical. The program aims to help networks develop shared infrastructure and planning capacity that makes that kind of response possible.

HRSA notes that additional eligibility conditions and details are provided in the full funding opportunity announcement. Applicants are expected to review the full announcement carefully to confirm rural location requirements, network member definitions, and documentation expectations.