Grants to States for Operation of Offices of Rural Health (93.913)

Program

93.913 Grants to States for Operation of Offices of Rural Health

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Health Resources and Services Administration

Authorization

Public Health Service Act, Section 338J; 42 U.S.C. 254r, as amended by sec. 301 P.L. 105-392.

Program Number

93.913

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To improve health care in rural areas through the establishment of State Offices of Rural Health (SORH).
For the CA to build and sustain rural health infrastructure by providing technical assistance to rural communities, to provide guidance and best practices on rural health networks and to improve quality of rural health care.

Types of Assistance

Cooperative Agreements; Project Grants

Uses and Use Restrictions

This is a matching grant program with States to support the establishment and ongoing operation of Offices of Rural Health. While a wide range of activities can be conducted to address unique State needs, each State Office of Rural Health must (1) Establish an information clearinghouse, (2) coordinate State and Federal rural health programs throughout the State, (3) provide technical assistance that will improve participation in State and Federal programs, and (4) work to improve availability of health professionals in rural areas.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

All fifty States may apply. Each State can only submit one application.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Underserved populations in rural areas; facilities and services in rural areas.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants should review the individual HRSA Guidance documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov.

All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.

Award Procedure

Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 2 to 3 months.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Grantees may request funding beyond an initial project period by submitting a competing continuation application during a regular competing application cycle. All competitive cycles are contingent upon availability of funds for such purposes.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 25.%. (Grants) States must match at least $3 for each $1 of Federal funds.
(CA) No statutory formula or matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grant applications should be submitted for a 5-year project period. Awards are normally made in a lump sum for an entire 12-month budget period. Payments are made annually either through a letter of credit or cash demand system. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Grantee drawdown funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. A financial status report (FSR) is required to be submitted to Grants Management within 90 days of the end of the budget period. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records 3 years after the date they submit the FSR. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the award has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2009: (Grants) In FY 09, 50 non-competing continuation grants were awarded. For FY 10, it is estimated that 50 non-competing continuation grants will be awarded.
(CA) One non-competing continuation award was funded in FY 09. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0350-0-1-550.

Obligations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $270,000; FY 09 est $360,000; FY 10 est $360,000. (Project Grants) FY 08 $7,400,000; FY 09 est $8,200,000; FY 10 est $8,200,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

(Grants) $150,000 to $167,000.
(CA) $360,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR Part 92 for State, local and tribal governments and 45 CFR Part 74 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofit organizations and commercial organizations, as applicable.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Program Contacts: Keith Midberry, Program Coordinator, State Office of Rural Health Grant Program, Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, Public Health Service, Parklawn Building, Room 9A-55, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-2669; E-mail: kmidberry@hrsa.gov.

Headquarters Office

The Office of Rural Health Policy 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-A55, Rockville, Maryland 20857 Phone: (301) 443-0835

Web Site Address

www.hrsa.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: (Grants) This program establishes a State Office of Rural Health in each State. In general, these projects cover a broad range of activities and tend to address problems and issues unique to the rural areas of a particular State. Examples of the types projects undertaken by State Offices of Rural Health include: 1) providing technical assistance to rural communities seeking to develop or improve primary health care; 2) training community leaders and providers of health services so that they may better respond to the needs of their rural residents; and 3) taking a leading role in drafting, obtaining, and implementing the rural physician loan repayment program to increase the likelihood of recruiting physicians to remote rural area.
(CA) National and regional meetings of State Offices, meetings and support for the National Recruitment Network, technical assistance to States and local organizations, and funding for five EMS/GIS mapping collaborative projects. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

(Grants) Grant applications will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: (1) The extent to which the application is responsive to the requirements and purposes of the program; (2) the extent to which the applicant has developed measurable goals, objectives, and an evaluation plan for the required, and any discretionary, activities; (3) the extent to which the Office is coordinated with, and has the cooperation of, other health entities and activities within the State; (4) the strength of the applicant's plans for administrative and financial management of the Office; (5) the reasonableness of the budget proposed for the Office; and (6) the likelihood that the Office will be continued after Federal grant support is completed.

(CA) Applications will be reviewed and rated on the applicant's ability to address the following areas: (1) Developing and disseminating knowledge through the solicitation, review, selection, compilation, and circulation of manuscripts derived from relevant research conducted on rural health issues; (2) organizing, publicizing, and managing meetings to enhance the dissemination of information on rural health care issues, including minority rural health, rural health clinics, and recruitment and retention of health care professionals in rural areas; (3) providing technical and other nonfinancial assistance to State offices of rural health to increase their capability to serve rural residents; (4) developing a network to promote recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural areas; and (5) providing updated information to the public about rural health clinics.