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Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP)
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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.301 |
Program
web site |
http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/ship.htm
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| Sponsor |
Office of Rural Health Policy |
| Deadlines |
April 6, 2009 |
| Purpose |
A non-competing continuation application is required for continuation of grant funding for a second or subsequent budget period within an approved project period. The continuation application submits the budget request for the next year of funding and serves as the primary source of information regarding activities, accomplishments, outcomes, and obstacles related to achieving project outcomes during the current budget period. It also provides documentation necessary to justify continuation of the project.
This Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP) is authorized by Section 1820(g)(3) of the Social Security Act to assist small rural hospitals in meeting the costs of implementing data systems required to meet requirements established under the Medicare program pursuant to amendments made by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Under this section, small rural hospitals may use funds to:
1. Purchase computer software and hardware (such as applications that focus on quality improvement, performance improvement and patient safety);
2. Educate and train hospital staff on computer information systems (such as using technology to improve patient outcomes); and
3. Offset costs related to the implementation of prospective payment systems (PPS) (such as updating chargemasters or providing training in billing and coding).
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| Eligibility |
The SHIP grant program funds are geared towards assisting small rural hospitals that are essential access points for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Eligible small rural hospitals are non-Federal, short-term general acute care facilities that are located in a rural area of the US and the territories, including faith-based hospitals. For the purpose of this program, 1) “small” is defined as 49 available beds or less, as reported on the hospital’s most recently filed Medicare Cost Report and 2) “rural” is defined as either located outside of a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) or located within a rural census tract of a MSA, as determined under the Goldsmith Modification or the Rural Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs). Hospitals may be for-profit or not-for-profit. Tribally operated hospitals under Titles I and V of P.L. 93-638 are eligible to the extent that such hospitals meet the above criteria. Regardless of geographic location, all designated Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) are eligible.
To determine eligibility and to request a hospital application, hospitals should contact their State Office of Rural Health (SORH). A list of SORH contacts can be found on the Internet at http:///ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/ship.htm. To facilitate the awards process, eligible hospitals must submit a hospital application to their SORH, by the SORH designated deadline. This will necessarily be before the April 20th deadline of this announcement. The SORH will be the official grantee of record, as they will act as a fiscal intermediary for all hospitals within their State. In turn, the SORH must verify hospital eligibility and will prepare and submit a single grant application to the Federal Government on behalf of all eligible hospital applicants in the State.
Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited to the current 46 State Office of Rural Health (SORH) awardees requesting support for a second or subsequent budget period within a previously approved project period for the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program. New hospitals that meet eligibility requirements may apply and receive funding through the SORH.
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Geographic
coverage |
Nationwide |
Amount of
funding |
HRSA expects to provide funding for the budget period beginning September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2010 in the amount of $15 million ($9,000 per approximately 1,600 hospitals. |
Application
process |
Eligible hospitals should contact their State Office of Rural Health
The 2010 SHIP Guidance is scheduled for release in late February 2010. |
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For more information contact:
Eligible hospitals should contact their State Office of Rural Health
Information related to the overall program issues and technical assistance regarding this funding announcement may be obtained by contacting:
Jeanene R. Meyers, MPH
E-mail: JMeyers@hrsa.gov
Telephone: (301)443-2482
Fax: (301) 443-2803 Summaries of funding programs are provided by RAC for your convenience. Please contact the funder directly for the most complete and current information. |
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