U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program

The purpose of the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program is to provide support to rural primary care providers for planning and implementation of quality improvement activities. Quality health care is the provision of appropriate services to individuals and populations that are consistent with current professional knowledge, in a technically competent manner, with good communication, shared decision-making and cultural sensitivity. The ultimate goal of the program is to promote the development of an evidence-based culture and delivery of coordinated care in the primary care setting. Additional objectives of the program include: improved health outcomes for patients; enhanced chronic disease management; and better engagement of patients and their caregivers.

The Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program supports three years of funding with an overall outcome to demonstrate an improvement in health status and to show a reduction in emergency department visits due to chronic disease. This funding opportunity supports quality improvement programs that will focus on patients with the highest health care utilization due to chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Organizations participating in the program will align their quality improvement programs with the goals of delivery system reform as previously described. Organizations will identify a patient population to track over the three-year project period, implement an evidence-based quality improvement model to provide a framework for improving care delivery, and use health information technology (HIT) to collect, report, and utilize information on cost and quality.

Amount: $4,150,000 is expected to be available annually to fund up to 21 recipients per year. The maximum award amount per year is $200,000.

Eligibility: Rural public or a rural nonprofit private health care provider or provider of health care services. For purposes of this program, “health care provider” may include, but is not limited to, entities such as black lung clinics, hospitals, public health agencies, home health providers, mental health centers and providers, substance abuse service providers, rural health clinics, primary care providers, oral health providers, social service agencies, health profession schools, local school districts, emergency services providers, community health centers/federally qualified health centers, Tribal health programs, churches and civic organizations that are providing health related services.

Although it is not a requirement, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is strongly encouraging applicants to form a consortium or network for this program.

Link: http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/index.html

Note: A technical assistance webinar will be held on Tuesday January 19, 2016 12:30-2:00 PM MST at https://hrsaseminar.adobeconnect.com/hrsa-16-019/.

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