Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 18 039
The Rural Health Clinic Policy and Clinical Assessment Program (HRSA-18-039) is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the selected recipient will carry out the work in close coordination with HRSA rather than operating entirely independently. The overall aim is to take a clear, practical look at what Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) are struggling with from a policy, regulatory, and clinical standpoint, then turn those findings into realistic solutions and usable guidance for clinics and other rural health stakeholders. A major emphasis is on keeping RHCs informed about the issues that shape how they deliver care, especially when regulations and program rules change.
The funded project is expected to do three main things. First, it must identify gaps in what RHCs know or understand about the operational side of running an RHC within federal and payer requirements. That includes regulatory and program compliance, billing and reimbursement, quality improvement approaches, best practices in care delivery, disease management, and care coordination. In practice, this means assessing where clinics are most likely to be confused, under-resourced, or at risk for mistakes that can affect payment, compliance standing, or patient outcomes.
Second, the awardee must identify knowledge gaps tied to specific clinical priority areas that are especially important in rural communities. The notice highlights opioid abuse, mental health, and child obesity as key examples. The expectation is not just to restate that these problems exist, but to pinpoint where RHCs need more clarity, training, support, or practical frameworks to respond effectively given the constraints common in rural settings (workforce shortages, limited referral options, and resource limitations).
Third, based on what is learned from the policy and clinical assessments, the recipient must propose tools, resources, and strategies that can close those gaps. The opportunity is framed around producing actionable solutions, which could include educational materials, assessment instruments, implementation guides, communication products, or other supports that help RHCs improve compliance, strengthen operations, and respond to priority clinical challenges. Just as important, the program is meant to inform RHCs and rural stakeholders about major RHC-related issues and changes that influence care delivery, reinforcing a broader technical assistance and information-sharing function.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.155 and was posted January 10, 2018, with an original closing date of March 16, 2018. HRSA anticipated making one award. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically signals that applicants must rely on the full notice for detailed budget guidance rather than treating the ceiling field as a usable funding cap. Eligibility is categorized as "Others" with details provided in the full announcement under additional eligibility information, indicating that applicants need to consult the full text to confirm whether their organization type qualifies.Apply for HRSA 18 039
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Health Clinic Policy and Clinical Assessment Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.155.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 10, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 16, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Rural Health Clinic Policy and Clinical Assessment Program (HRSA-18-039)?
It is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program focuses on assessing Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) from policy, regulatory, and clinical perspectives, then turning those findings into practical solutions and guidance for RHCs and rural health stakeholders.
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement. That means the recipient is expected to carry out the work in close coordination with HRSA rather than operating fully independently.
What is the overall goal of the program?
The goal is to take a clear, practical look at the challenges RHCs face (policy, regulatory, operational, and clinical) and translate the findings into realistic tools, resources, and usable guidance. A key emphasis is keeping RHCs informed about issues that shape how they deliver care, especially as regulations and program rules change.
How many awards did HRSA anticipate making?
HRSA anticipated making one award.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was posted on January 10, 2018, with an original closing date of March 16, 2018.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.155.
What are the main required activities for the funded project?
The funded project is expected to do three main things: (1) identify operational knowledge gaps for RHCs related to federal and payer requirements; (2) identify knowledge gaps tied to priority clinical areas important in rural communities; and (3) propose tools, resources, and strategies to close the identified gaps and keep RHCs informed about major RHC-related issues and changes that influence care delivery.
What does it mean to identify operational knowledge gaps for RHCs?
It means assessing where RHCs may be confused, under-resourced, or at risk for mistakes in the operational side of running an RHC within federal and payer requirements. The focus includes areas where misunderstandings or weak processes could affect payment, compliance standing, or patient outcomes.
Which operational topics are specifically called out as part of the assessment?
The notice highlights operational topics such as regulatory and program compliance, billing and reimbursement, quality improvement approaches, best practices in care delivery, disease management, and care coordination.
What clinical priority areas are emphasized for the clinical knowledge gap assessment?
The notice highlights opioid abuse, mental health, and child obesity as key examples of priority clinical areas, particularly because they are especially important in rural communities.
Is the program asking recipients to simply describe rural health problems?
No. The expectation is to pinpoint where RHCs need more clarity, training, support, or practical frameworks to respond effectively, especially given common rural constraints like workforce shortages, limited referral options, and resource limitations.
What kinds of deliverables or outputs is the recipient expected to propose?
Based on the policy and clinical assessments, the recipient must propose actionable tools, resources, and strategies that can close identified gaps. Examples mentioned include educational materials, assessment instruments, implementation guides, communication products, or other supports that help RHCs improve compliance, strengthen operations, and respond to priority clinical challenges.
How does the program support RHCs when regulations or program rules change?
A major emphasis of the program is keeping RHCs informed about issues that shape how they deliver care, with a specific focus on major RHC-related issues and changes that influence care delivery. The program is framed as having a broader technical assistance and information-sharing function.
What is meant by the program taking a "policy, regulatory, and clinical" look at RHC challenges?
It means examining not only clinical care topics, but also the rules, requirements, and operational realities that affect how RHCs function day to day. The intent is to connect policy and regulatory realities to practical clinic operations and clinical performance, then produce guidance that clinics can actually use.
Why does the opportunity mention billing and reimbursement as an assessment area?
Billing and reimbursement are included because misunderstandings or gaps in this area can lead to payment issues, compliance risks, and operational instability. The project is expected to identify where RHCs most often need clearer guidance or support related to payer requirements.
What does "eligibility is categorized as 'Others'" mean?
It means the listing itself categorizes eligibility broadly as "Others," and applicants are expected to consult the full announcement under the additional eligibility information section to confirm whether their organization type qualifies.
Does the grant listing provide a clear maximum funding amount?
The listing shows an award ceiling of 0. This typically signals that applicants should rely on the full notice for detailed budget guidance rather than treating the ceiling field as a usable cap.
What should applicants do to confirm budget and eligibility details?
Applicants should consult the full funding announcement for the detailed budget guidance (since the listing ceiling is shown as 0) and for the additional eligibility information (since eligibility is listed as "Others" in the summary).
Who is the federal sponsor of this program?
The sponsor is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
What is the practical impact this program is trying to achieve for Rural Health Clinics?
The practical impact is to help RHCs improve compliance and operations, reduce preventable mistakes that affect payment or standing, and strengthen how they address priority clinical issues in rural communities by providing actionable guidance and tools informed by real-world assessments.
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