What funding is available to help me through the
CAH conversion process?
Technical Assistance Grants
Colorado was awarded a grant from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
to support the Critical Access Hospital Program. This fact sheet will
provide information about that grant and the technical assistance (TA)
resources and grants available.
Eligibility for Technical Assistance Funding
First, to be eligible for these TA grants you have to be certified
as a CAH or at least be eligible and seriously considering converting.
To start that process, you must contact the CAH Director, Cari Fouts.
She can provide you information about the required preliminary financial
feasibility study and the whole certification process. Here's how to reach
her:
Cari Fouts, Director
Critical Access Hospital Program
Colorado Rural Health Center
3033 S. Parker Rd., Suite 606
Aurora, CO 80014 Phone:303-832-7493 Fax:303-832-7496 Email:cf@coruralhealth.org
Uses of Technical Assistance Funds
These funds are intended to assist hospital facilities and their communities
with the CAH conversion process. In writing the federal grant, we asked
for technical assistance support in the general areas that current CAHs
told us they most needed help during the conversion process. This included:
Billing & Reimbursement
Community Outreach and Education
Needs Assessment
Network Development
Preparation for CAH Certification/Recertification Survey
Quality Improvement
Staff Development and Education
Strategic Planning
Health Information Technology
Based on your unique needs and circumstances, there might be other
areas in which you need technical assistance to support conversion. Call
the Center to discuss these options. However, there is one specific restriction: Federal guidelines prohibit
the use of these funds for equipment or construction.
Amount of Funding Available
Each CAH facility or community can apply for a maximum of $20,000 in
a single CAH grant calendar year. That year runs from September 1
to August 31st. CAHs can
apply for and receive more than one grant, but each CAH facility is
also limited to a total of $50,000 during our overall four-year grant
period.
Is a match required?
You will be required to put up 20% of the cost of the technical assistance.
For example, if you hire someone to facilitate a series of strategic planning
meetings for which they will charge you $8000, you can apply for $6400
and you would cover the remaining $1600. We will require documentation
that the match was made.
Technical Assistance Resources
You can select the consultant or organization that you prefer to
work with, or we can help you find one. You may wish to contact other hospital
colleagues for suggestions. The Colorado Rural Health Center has a list
of consultants in the various technical assistance fields and can provide
suggestions.
Application Deadlines
The application deadline is usually in November each year.
Application Components
Your request or application should address each of these areas:
Amount Requested - Clearly state the amount you are requesting
for your technical assistance project.
Total Project Cost - Outline the total expected cost of your
project. For those costs not covered by the grant (and remember, you
must have a match of at least 20%) explain, in general, how those additional
costs will be covered.
Proposed Use of Funds - This is the section where you describe
your project - what it is you are proposing to do with your grant.
CAH Conversion Support - Because these federal funds are intended
to help hospitals and communities with their consideration of or conversion
to Critical Access Hospital, please describe briefly how this project
will do so.
Community Healthcare Access - In general, please explain how
this project, and/or the CAH conversion, will improve access to healthcare
in your community.
Timelines - Describe the general timeline along which you plan
to undertake and complete your project.
Sign Off - As outlined on the Application Form, don't forget
the necessary signatures from your Administrator, Board Chairperson
or President, and Chief of Medical Staff.
Where can I get an application form?
The one-page CAH TA Grant Application Form is available by contacting the
Colorado Rural Health Center:
Colorado Rural Health Center
3033 S. Parker Rd., Suite 606
Aurora, CO 80014
Phone: (303)832-7493 or from rural Colorado: 1(800)851-6782
Fax: (303)832-7496
Email: info@coruralhealth.org
