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Rural Health Information Hub

Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare – Funding & Opportunities

For additional funding options, please see RHIhub's Online Library: Funding & Opportunities

Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDL and REDG)
Loans and grants to assist in the economic development of rural areas, including funds for healthcare facilities and equipment, telecommunications networks, and job creation projects.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 31, 2024
Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development
Leveraging Health Information Technology (Health IT) to Address Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Grants for research that examines how health information technology adoption impacts minority health and health disparity populations in access to care, quality of care, patient engagement, and health outcomes.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: May 7, 2025
Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees
Loans and loan guarantees for the construction, maintenance, improvement, and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Utilities Service
Community Connect Broadband Grant Program Inactive
Grants for communities without broadband access to provide residential and business broadband service and connect facilities such as police and fire stations, healthcare, libraries, and schools.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Feb 20, 2024
Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development, USDA Rural Utilities Service
Rural Health Network Development Planning Program Inactive
Grants to promote the planning and development of integrated rural healthcare networks in order to achieve efficiencies; expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of essential healthcare services; and strengthen the rural healthcare system as a whole.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jan 26, 2024
Sponsors: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Quality Payment Program Exceptions Inactive
The opportunity to apply for exceptions to meeting Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program requirements. The 2 exceptions include extreme and uncontrollable circumstances and promoting interoperability hardship.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jan 2, 2024
Sponsor: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Hardship Exception Application Inactive
CMS eligible hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) may be exempted from the Medicare Promoting Interoperability payment adjustment if they can show that compliance with the requirement for being a meaningful EHR user would result in a significant hardship. Eligible hospitals and CAHs may submit a hardship exception application each year for a maximum of 5 years.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Sep 30, 2023
Sponsor: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) Inactive
Provides funding to small rural hospitals, through their State Office of Rural Health, to help them do any or all of the following: purchase equipment or training to attain value-based payment and care goals; join Medicare Shared Savings Program or become an accountable care organization; and purchase health information technology, equipment, or training.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Nov 8, 2022
Sponsors: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Center Controlled Networks Inactive
Grants to support Health Center Controlled Networks to advance the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology strategies and to leverage technology to deliver high-quality, culturally competent, equitable, and comprehensive primary healthcare.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Feb 1, 2022
Sponsors: Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration
Rural Veterans Health Access Program Inactive
Grants for current Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program award recipients in states with certified Critical Access Hospitals to work with providers and other partners to improve access to needed healthcare services and to improve the coordination of care for veterans living in rural areas.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 10, 2021
Sponsors: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Last Updated: 12/19/2023