The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy has released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (Network Planning) (HRSA-21-021). HRSA plans to award 20 grants to rural communities as part of this funding opportunity.
Award recipients will receive up to $100,000 for a one-year period of performance to promote the development of integrated health care networks in order to achieve efficiencies; expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services; and strengthen the rural health care system as a whole. HRSA defines an integrated health care network is defined as an organizational arrangement among at least three (3) regional or local health care organizations that come together to develop strategies for improving health services delivery systems in a community. An integrated health care network should be an independent organization with signed agreements, defined policies and, often by-laws based on a long-term vision for achieving systemic change. Decision-making is shared and distributed among members and the programmatic focus adapts to changing priorities. Networks can include a wide range of community partners including social service agencies, State Rural Health Associations, Primary Care Associations, academic medical centers, mental health agencies, charitable organizations, educational institutions, employers, local government agencies or other entities with an interest in a community’s health care system.
Applications are due November 16, 2020. The notice of funding opportunity is available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=326598
