USDA Rural Development can support rural health providers in Colorado through the Community Facilities program. With few sources of capital available in rural America, rural health care providers can look to this program to help fund software and hardware purchases to meet Health IT requirements and deadlines. Loan and limited grant funding is available. For information please contact your local Rural Development Office.

Another source of capital for rural health care providers is the Rural Utilities Service Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant program. This program is an excellent source of capital to bring telemedicine services to rural communities. Applicants can compete for grant funding for the purchase of end-user telecommunication equipment, which facilitates real time health care for rural patients by medical doctors or specialists located in larger hospital facilities. Rural Development is accepting applications for the DLT Program through April 25, 2011. More information on how to apply for this program can be found here.