Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program

 

The Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program supports small rural hospitals in their quality improvement efforts and with adapting to changing payment systems through investments in hardware, software, and related trainings. This includes focusing on delivering value in care as well as activities related to improving Prospective Payment Systems (PPS).

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
93.301
Federal Agency/Office
Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Authorization
Section 1820(g) (3) (F) (ii) (I) of Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-4 (g) (3), as amended by Section 3129 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), P.L. 111-148.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
The State Office of Rural Health (SORH) in each state will be the official awardee of record, as they will act as a fiscal intermediary for all hospitals within their state. Each SORH will be charged with organizing the distribution of funds to eligible hospitals. Only SORHs are eligible to apply for this grant. Federally-recognized Tribal Government and Native American Organizations are selected if they are eligible to apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Small rural hospitals must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to be eligible for SHIP funds: "Small" is a facility with 49 or fewer available beds, as reported on the hospital's most recent Medicare Cost Report. "Rural area" is either (a) being located outside of a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA); (b) being located within a rural census tract of a MSA, as determined under the Goldsmith Modification or the Rural Urban Commuting Areas; or (c) being treated as if it is located in a rural area pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1395(d)(8)(E). "Hospital" is a non-federal, short-term, general acute care facility. Hospitals may be for-profit or not-for-profit. All Critical Access Hospitals are eligible for the program. In addition, hospitals with fewer than 50 beds located in a designated rural area, designated by any state law or regulation, are eligible. Tribally operated hospitals under Titles I and V of P.L. 93-638 are eligible to the extent that such hospitals meet the above criteria.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants should review the individual HRSA notice of funding opportunity 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.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. An electronic quarterly Federal Financial Report (FFR) is due to the Division of Payment Management within 30 days of the end of each quarter. A final FFR must be submitted to HRSA via the Electronic HandBooks (EHB) within 90 days of the end of each budget period. Awardees are required to maintain grant accounting records 3 years after the date they submit the Federal Financial Report (FFR). 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.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards 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 Award.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Up to six months.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
SHIP awards may be made for up to 4-year project periods. Subject to availability of funds, after initial awards, projects may be renewed non-competitively contingent upon submission and approval of an application, availability of appropriated funds, and awardee's satisfactory performance.
How are proposals selected?
Applicants will be evaluated based on: (1) extent to which applicant is responsive to the requirements and purposes of this program; and (2) extent to which application describes need, strategies, and investment to address those needs.
How may assistance be used?
All funds awarded are to be expended solely for carrying out the approved projects.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
An electronic quarterly Federal Financial Report (FFR) is due to the Division of Payment Management within 30 days of the end of each quarter. A final FFR must be submitted to HRSA via the Electronic HandBooks (EHB) within 90 days of the end of each budget period. Awardees are required to maintain grant accounting records 3 years after the date they submit the Federal Financial Report (FFR). 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.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards are made annually and payment is made through the DHHS Payment Management System. Awardee drawdown funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 17N 172C, Rockville, Maryland 20857 Phone:(301) 443-0835
Headquarters Office
Salamatu Barrie
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857 USA
sbarrie@hrsa.gov
Phone: 3014430456
Website Address
http://www.hrsa.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0350-0-1-550
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 18$15,631,528.00; FY 19 est $18,665,218.00; FY 20 Estimate Not Available FY 17$15,288,642.00; FY 16$14,757,796.00; - Small Hospital Improvement Program
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Range = $20,340 to $1,118,700. $351,970 (average award amount).
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. HRSA awards are subject to the requirements of the HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) that are applicable based on recipient type and purpose of award. The HHS GPS is available at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 



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