Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 13 159
Apply for HRSA 13 159
- The Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant 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 Nov 30, 2012 and posted on Nov 30, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 30, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- (A) Organization Requirements Eligible applicants must be rural public or rural nonprofit private entities that deliver health care services in rural areas. Examples of eligible organizations include Rural Health Clinics (RHC), Critical Access Hospi
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Opportunity Summary:
The Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program (often called the Rural Quality Program) is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding opportunity designed to help small rural primary care providers build and strengthen practical, data-driven quality improvement efforts. At its core, the program is meant to move rural clinics and other eligible rural providers toward an evidence-based culture of continuous improvement and more coordinated care. HRSA frames "quality health care" broadly, emphasizing not just technically correct services, but care that aligns with current professional standards and is delivered with strong communication, shared decision making, and cultural sensitivity. The program is ultimately focused on better patient outcomes, stronger chronic disease management, and more meaningful engagement of patients and caregivers.
A central requirement is that participating organizations use an evidence-based quality improvement model and carry out real "tests of change" (small, measurable improvement cycles) rather than one-time fixes. Grantees must also use health information technology (HIT) to collect, validate, and report clinical data. HIT can include an electronic patient registry or an electronic health record, and it is treated as essential because it allows providers to generate timely, meaningful performance data that can guide care planning and improvement work. Applicants are expected to have an HIT system implemented by the time an award is made. In this context, implementation is not just purchasing software; it includes installation and supporting steps such as staff training, mock go-live activities, and pilot testing. While grant funds cannot be used to buy an EHR system itself, awardees are allowed to use funds to develop or purchase modules, interfaces, or customized reporting tools that make data capture and reporting possible. If an applicant plans to rely on an EHR, HRSA strongly recommends using a product certified by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
The program supports a three-year project period with a staged set of expectations. In year one, grantees finish any remaining HIT work needed for data collection, train staff on the chosen quality improvement model and on data processes, begin collecting and validating clinical data, and start implementing improvement initiatives through tests of change. A key milestone is that baseline clinical data must be reported within six months of the project start date. In year two, organizations continue routine clinical data reporting and use those results to steer and refine their quality improvement activities, while also focusing heavily on sustainability planning. By the end of year two, grantees must submit a final sustainability plan that explains how the work will continue after federal support ends and must include at least one additional health indicator the organization intends to target for future quality improvement and data collection, along with a rationale for why that indicator was selected. In year three, grantees keep reporting data, continue strengthening sustainability, and identify another condition or disease area to focus on once the federal funding period is over, reinforcing that the program is meant to create lasting internal capacity rather than short-term projects.
Although not mandatory, the Office of Rural Health Policy strongly encourages applicants to participate as part of a consortium or network. The reasoning is that health care is increasingly collaborative and many payment and incentive programs are easier to enter, and more sustainable, when organizations partner, share resources, and coordinate approaches. HRSA also emphasizes that its funding is intended to function as seed money: applicants are expected to maximize non-federal revenue and support, describe what other funding or services already exist for the target population, and explain how HRSA dollars would fill gaps rather than duplicate existing resources. Grantees are also encouraged to bill third-party payers for reimbursable services so grant dollars can be concentrated on training and building an internal culture and infrastructure for quality improvement that can persist after grant funding ends. Participation is also positioned as a way to prepare rural providers to succeed in value-based and incentive-oriented environments, including pay-for-performance models and initiatives like Patient Centered Medical Home, Meaningful Use, and Accountable Care Organizations.
From the published opportunity details, this was a discretionary HRSA grant (Funding Opportunity Number HRSA-13-159) in the health activity category, with an anticipated 60 awards and an annual award ceiling of $150,000. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants were rural public entities or rural nonprofit private entities that deliver health care services in rural areas, with examples including Rural Health Clinics and Critical Access Hospitals (the full eligibility list appears in the announcement). The opportunity originally posted November 30, 2012, with a closing date of January 30, 2013, and it was archived March 31, 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program (Rural Quality Program)?
The Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program (often called the Rural Quality Program) is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding opportunity intended to help small rural primary care providers build and strengthen practical, data-driven quality improvement (QI) efforts. The program is designed to move eligible rural providers toward an evidence-based culture of continuous improvement and more coordinated care.
What does HRSA mean by "quality health care" in this program?
HRSA describes quality health care broadly. It is not limited to technically correct clinical services. It also includes care that aligns with current professional standards and is delivered with strong communication, shared decision making, and cultural sensitivity.
What outcomes is the program trying to improve?
The program is ultimately aimed at better patient outcomes, stronger chronic disease management, and more meaningful engagement of patients and caregivers.
What is the core approach grantees are expected to use for quality improvement?
Grantees are required to use an evidence-based quality improvement model and conduct real "tests of change." These are small, measurable improvement cycles intended to produce learning and results over time, rather than relying on one-time fixes.
Are "tests of change" required, or can a clinic implement a single improvement and be done?
Tests of change are a central requirement. The emphasis is on iterative, measurable improvement cycles and building ongoing internal capacity for continuous improvement, rather than completing a single stand-alone fix.
Is health information technology (HIT) required for participation?
Yes. Grantees must use HIT to collect, validate, and report clinical data. HIT is treated as essential because it supports timely, meaningful performance data that can guide care planning and quality improvement work.
What types of HIT are acceptable under this program?
HIT can include tools such as an electronic patient registry or an electronic health record (EHR). The key expectation is that the system supports clinical data collection, validation, and reporting.
Does the HIT system need to be in place before the award is made?
Applicants are expected to have an HIT system implemented by the time an award is made.
What does HRSA mean by "implemented" HIT?
Implementation is described as more than purchasing software. It includes installation and supporting steps such as staff training, mock go-live activities, and pilot testing.
Can grant funds be used to purchase an EHR system?
No. Grant funds cannot be used to buy an EHR system itself.
If EHR purchase is not allowed, what HIT-related costs can the grant support?
Awardees may use funds to develop or purchase modules, interfaces, or customized reporting tools that enable data capture and reporting.
If an applicant plans to use an EHR, does HRSA recommend any particular standards?
Yes. If relying on an EHR, HRSA strongly recommends using a product certified by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
How long is the project period?
The program supports a three-year project period with staged expectations across year one, year two, and year three.
What are the main expectations in year one?
In year one, grantees are expected to complete remaining HIT work needed for data collection, train staff on the chosen QI model and data processes, begin collecting and validating clinical data, and start implementing improvement initiatives through tests of change.
When is baseline clinical data due?
A key milestone is that baseline clinical data must be reported within six months of the project start date.
What are the main expectations in year two?
In year two, organizations continue routine clinical data reporting and use results to steer and refine QI activities. Year two also places heavy emphasis on sustainability planning.
What sustainability deliverable is required by the end of year two?
By the end of year two, grantees must submit a final sustainability plan explaining how the work will continue after federal support ends.
What must be included in the final sustainability plan?
The plan must include at least one additional health indicator the organization intends to target for future quality improvement and data collection, along with a rationale for selecting that indicator.
What are the main expectations in year three?
In year three, grantees continue reporting data and strengthening sustainability, and they identify another condition or disease area to focus on once the federal funding period is over. This reinforces that the program is intended to build lasting internal capacity rather than support short-term projects.
Is participation in a consortium or network required?
No. It is not mandatory, but the Office of Rural Health Policy strongly encourages applicants to participate as part of a consortium or network.
Why does HRSA encourage consortium or network participation?
The program emphasizes that health care is increasingly collaborative. Many payment and incentive programs may be easier to enter, and more sustainable, when organizations partner, share resources, and coordinate approaches.
How does HRSA expect applicants to treat grant funds in relation to other funding sources?
HRSA emphasizes that its funding is intended to function as seed money. Applicants are expected to maximize non-federal revenue and support, describe what other funding or services already exist for the target population, and explain how HRSA dollars would fill gaps rather than duplicate existing resources.
Are grantees encouraged to bill insurance or other third-party payers?
Yes. Grantees are encouraged to bill third-party payers for reimbursable services so grant dollars can be focused on training and building a culture and infrastructure for quality improvement that can persist after grant funding ends.
How does this program relate to value-based care and incentive programs?
Participation is positioned as a way to prepare rural providers to succeed in value-based and incentive-oriented environments, including pay-for-performance models and initiatives such as Patient Centered Medical Home, Meaningful Use, and Accountable Care Organizations.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is HRSA-13-159.
How many awards were anticipated, and what was the maximum annual award amount?
The published details anticipated 60 awards, with an annual award ceiling of $150,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity specified that there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What types of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were rural public entities or rural nonprofit private entities that deliver health care services in rural areas. Examples provided include Rural Health Clinics and Critical Access Hospitals (with the full eligibility list referenced as appearing in the announcement).
When was this funding opportunity originally posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was originally posted on November 30, 2012, and the closing date was January 30, 2013.
Is this opportunity currently open?
No. The opportunity was archived on March 31, 2013.
What is the overall purpose of the three-year structure?
The staged expectations are meant to build durable, internal quality improvement capacity: implement and operationalize data collection and tests of change early, use performance data to refine interventions, and establish sustainability plans and future clinical focus areas so progress continues after federal funding ends.
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