The new Rural Hospital Stabilization Program (RHSP), funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and administered by the National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center), offers assistance to rural hospitals across the country to help them improve their financial stability by enhancing or expanding health care services that meet community needs and keep care close to home. The program’s ultimate goal is to strengthen rural health care delivery nationwide.
The Center will host an introductory webinar on Dec. 18 at 2:00 pm CT. Those wishing to know more about RHSP are welcome to register and attend. Space is limited and the webinar will be recorded.
Program Details and Benefits
Hospitals selected to participate in the cohort-style program — the first of which will begin in spring 2025 — will work to identify clinical areas where the enhancement or expansion of services would help to ensure that care is available locally, and develop those service lines to bolster patient volume, optimize service utilization and improve cash flow. Example service lines include pulmonary rehabilitation, outpatient behavioral health services, infusion/chemotherapy, obstetric services and expanded primary care.
Guided by The Center’s in-house subject matter experts and a team of nationally recognized financial and operational consultants who have experience working with rural hospitals, participating hospitals and their leaders will gain the tools and understanding necessary to adopt best practices and evidence-based models and enhance financial performance and operational efficiency. Support and guidance will be provided — at no cost to hospitals — in the form of:
- Comprehensive financial and operational assessments
- Education, training, one-on-one coaching and peer-to-peer sharing
- Customized assistance to meet unique facility needs
Hospitals selected for comprehensive on-site technical assistance that meet program expectations may receive financial support for operating and equipment costs for service line development, and for a Community Engagement Champion, a hospital staff member tasked with managing program-related community collaboration and marketing activities that are vital for hospital stability and long-term viability.
The program application will open on Wednesday, December 18.
Eligibility
Eligible rural hospitals include critical access hospitals, prospective payment system hospitals, rural emergency hospitals and Indian Health Service hospitals. Priority will be given to hospitals with low patient volume and/or mid-to-high financial risk that can demonstrate the capacity to benefit from program services and meet program goals. Up to eight hospitals will be selected annually to participate. Additional eligibility criteria can be found online.
Introduction Webinar
We will host an “Introduction to the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program” webinar on Wednesday, December 18 to provide additional information about participation criteria, program benefits and the application process. The webinar is intended for hospital leaders; staff from State Offices of Rural Health, state hospital associations, state rural health associations and state Flex Programs; and other rural health stakeholders.
Questions?
Do you have any current questions about the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program? Visit our webpage to learn more or contact us at stabilization@ruralcenter.org.
