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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

93.912:  Rural Health Outreach and Rural Network Development Program

Objectives:  To expand access to, coordinate, restrain the cost of, and improve the quality of essential health services, including preventive and emergency services, through the development of integrated health care delivery systems or networks in rural areas and regions.

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

93.912 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Rural public or non-profit private entities that include three or more health care providers or other entities that provide or support the delivery of health care services. The administrative headquarters of the organization must be located in a rural county or a rural census tract of an urban county; or an organization is constituted exclusively to provide services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers in rural areas and supported under Section 330G of the Public Health Service Act; or the applicant is a Native American Tribal or quasi-tribal entity for services delivered on reservation or recognized tribal lands.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Medically underserved populations in rural areas will receive expanded services in rural communities where they did not previously exist.

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

93.912 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Preapplication coordination is not required. This program is subject to the provisions of E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process which the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance if the State has selected the program for review. Applicants must also consult with the State Office of Rural Health.

Application Procedure:  Application kits can be obtained by writing HRSA Grants Application Center, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rm. 4-91, Rockville, MD 20857, or by calling toll-free: 1-877-477-2123. This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR, Part 92 for state and local governments and OMB Circular No. A-110 for nonprofit organizations.

Award Procedure:  Applications are reviewed by Federal and nonfederal experts in rural health care services development, coordination, and delivery. Applications are evaluated for merit and are recommended for approval or disapproval. Final decisions 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 4 to 5 months.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  None.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Criteria are based on the need of the project, innovation, clearly defined roles of each network member, strength of applicant's management plan, level of local commitment, costs, and program evaluation plan.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Funded projects include efforts to provide primary care services in rural areas, including mental health services, emergency medical services, prenatal care, free clinical services, and preventive health services. In addition, projects designed to increase the number of health professionals available to provide services in rural areas have also been funded. These include upgrading nursing skills from R.N. to N.P. or C.N.S. levels or upgrading the skills of emergency medical services personnel. In addition, projects designed to improve access to rural health services (such as transportation or services on mobile vans) have also been funded. More recently projects to develop or enhance vertically integrated networks have been supported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  The range is from $50,000 to $200,000; $175,000.

93.912 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 93.224 Community Health Centers;
• 93.246 Health Centers Grants for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers;
• 93.155 Rural Health Research Centers; and
• 93.212 Chiropractic Demonstration Projects.

93.912 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

93.912 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $25,909,590; FY 00 est $31,400,000; and FY 01 est $31,400,000.

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

Authorization:  Health Centers Consolidation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-299.

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

93.912 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Program Contact: Ms. Eileen Holloran, Grant Programs Coordinator, Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, Room 9A-55, Parklawn Bldg., 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Phone: (301) 443-7529. Grants Management Contact: Mr. Lawrence Poole, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Office, Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, East-West Towers, 11th Floor, 4350 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: (301)594-4235.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

93.912 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  There are no statutory formula or matching requirements for this program.

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 Payment Management System.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  All funds awarded are to be expended solely for carrying out the approved projects. The applicant must apply in conjunction with two or more other entities as part of a network.

93.912 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.

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. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. 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 the regular 3-year period expires, whichever is later.