Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Funding for Rural Mobile Healthcare Programs

Mobile healthcare programs use a variety of funding streams to implement programming in rural communities, often using approaches that mix public funding, community partnerships, and private investments. For example, most mobile health clinics receive some financial support from philanthropy, while slightly less than half receive federal funds to operate. Organizational affiliations can help provide additional sources of funding; common affiliations include hospitals and health systems, universities, health centers, insurers, and faith-based programs.

Reimbursement

Depending on the scope of the mobile healthcare program and the services delivered, programs can consider opportunities for reimbursement through traditional healthcare payers. Payers are interested in reducing costs, improving care quality, and community health. As a result, there has been increased interest in recent years from private and public payers in community paramedicine and other mobile healthcare models that can achieve these goals. Accountable care organizations (ACOs) and other value-based payment models are one way that providers can share in cost savings that result from successful mobile healthcare programs.

Because each state operates within a different healthcare reimbursement context and has specific rules for what federal programs such as Medicaid can cover, it is important that programs understand reimbursement models, and that they select one best suited to the longevity of their program. Through Medicaid, at least seven states offer reimbursement for community paramedicine, and more states offer reimbursement for treatment when a person calls 911. Fourteen states provide some reimbursement for treatment without transport. In addition, commercial insurers have launched pilot projects in 17 states to explore payment models for community paramedicine programs.

As more payers begin reimbursing for mobile healthcare and community paramedicine services, programs will be able to build a sustainable revenue base that supports their work.

Government Grants

Mobile healthcare programs can seek support from federal and state-sponsored grants for implementation and sustainability planning. Congress has taken steps to expand mobile healthcare access by passing the MOBILE Health Act in March 2023. This bill ensures that rural and hard-to-reach communities can fund mobile-health delivery models, including models that do not also have a brick-and-mortar (standalone) location. Examples of federal agencies that have funded grants for mobile healthcare programs include:

In addition, state EMS or public health agencies may also offer routine or special grant opportunities that can be used to fund mobile healthcare programs, especially ones that provide community paramedicine services. For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Emergency Medical Services offers grants that fortify national EMS systems and programs. These grants fund programs like workforce training and collaboration between health systems.

This site offers a list of active and inactive funding opportunities for topics such as mobile and episodic healthcare delivery and community paramedicine.

Nonprofits and Foundations

Nonprofit organizations and foundations are also available avenues for funding mobile healthcare programs. For example, the Mobile Healthcare Association (MHA) is a great place to look for grants to support a mobile health clinic or another type of mobile healthcare program. MHA offers tools, resources, and other forms of support to help mobile clinics make a bigger impact. Similarly, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) shares funding opportunities in partnership with foundations to advance the development of mobile health units.

Several examples of foundations funding rural mobile healthcare programs, including mobile integrated health programs include:

  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Duke Endowment
  • Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
  • Vitalyst Health Foundation
  • California Health Care Foundation

For more information about building relationships with rural philanthropic organizations, see A Guide to Working with Rural Philanthropy.

For more examples of potential funders of rural mobile healthcare programs, please visit the Rural Community Health Toolkit.

Resources to Learn More

2019 Rural Emergency Care Integration Summit
Document
Summarizes findings from a rural emergency care integration summit, providing information to help rural EMS leaders and healthcare providers transition from volume- to value-based care. Highlights the need for EMS agencies to take on new roles and offers strategies for collaboration and integration into evolving healthcare systems.
Organization(s): National Rural Health Resource Center
Date: 8/2019