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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

93.241:  State Rural Hospital Flexibility Program

Objectives:  To help States work with rural communities and hospitals to develop and implement a rural health plan, develop integrated networks of care, improve emergency medical services and designate critical access hospitals (CAHs).

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

93.241 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  States that have submitted a State Rural Health Plan to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) can apply. All other States need to submit an application to the Regional Administrator of their HCFA Regional Office that expresses the State's interest in developing a Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program before they can apply for grant funds.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  States with at least one hospital located in a non-metropolitan statistical area or county and provides HCFA with necessary assurances.

Credentials/Documentation:  OMB Circular No. A-87, "Cost Principles Applicable to Grants and Contracts with State and Local Governments," applies.

93.241 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  States are required to collaborate with State Offices of Rural Health, State Hospital Associations, State EMS Offices, and rural hospitals. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Application Kits can be obtained by writing to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Grants Application Center, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rm. 4-91, Rockville, MD 20857, or by calling toll-free: 1-877-477-2123.

Award Procedure:  Applications are evaluated by Federal and nonfederal experts. All acceptable applications will be funded. Final decisions on level of funding are made by the Director, Office of Rural Health Policy.

Deadlines:  Contact Headquarters Office listed below for deadline dates.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 3 to 5 months.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  None.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Contact Headquarters for selection criteria.

Examples of Funded Projects:  None.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  The range is from $200,000 to $700,000.

93.241 RELATED PROGRAMS:

93.241 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

93.241 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR (OA/DGPM/HRSA) INCLUDES OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH, HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $22,592,842; FY 00 est $25,000,000; and FY 01 est $25,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  75-0350-0-1-550.

Authorization:  Section 4201 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Public Law 105-33.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Program Guidelines may be obtained by contacting the Headquarters Office. PHS Grant Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000, (Rev.) April 1, 1995.

93.241 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Program Contact: Ms. Sahira Rafiullah, Associate Director, Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9A-55, Rockville, MD 20857. Phone: (301) 443-0835. Grants Management: Mr. Lawrence Poole, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Office, Bureau of Primary Health Care, 4350 East-West Highway, 11th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: (301) 594-4235.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

93.241 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Awards are made annually. Funds are available to grantees on an as needed basis throughout the budget period and payments are made through the DHHS Payment Management System.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  All funds awarded are to be expended solely for the purposes outlined in the approved projects.

93.241 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  A performance progress report is submitted with each noncompeting continuation application. A financial status report is to be submitted within 90 days after the close of the budget period. A final program report is to be submitted within 90 days after the close of the project period. In addition, grantees are required to participate in a national program evaluation.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials.

Records:  Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records for 3 years after the end of the project period. If any litigation, audit, or other action involving the records 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 3-year period expires, whichever is later.