Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 20 025

The Rural Health Network Development (RHND) Program is a federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It is designed to strengthen health care in rural communities by funding integrated rural health care networks that are already working together in a coordinated way. The program specifically targets networks that have moved beyond loose collaboration and have meaningfully combined functions across participating organizations, supported by capable staff and a well-functioning network board. The central idea is that rural communities can improve services and outcomes when multiple partners operate as a true system rather than as separate entities.

At its core, the program expects funded networks to pursue three legislative aims: first, to achieve efficiencies in how rural health care is delivered and managed; second, to expand access to essential services while also improving coordination and quality; and third, to strengthen the rural health care system overall so it can better withstand workforce, financial, and policy pressures. RHND places a strong emphasis on solutions that are driven by local needs identified by the community itself, rather than one-size-fits-all models. It also encourages rural networks to prepare for ongoing changes in health care delivery and financing, including shifts that may require new partnerships, new workflows, and more robust data and quality improvement capabilities.

A major theme of this opportunity is helping rural networks position themselves for value-based care and population health management. In practice, that means building the ability to manage health outcomes for groups of patients, measure performance, coordinate care across settings, and improve quality in ways that align with emerging reimbursement models. The program also highlights alignment with key HHS priorities, particularly mental health and substance use disorder, recognizing that these needs are often acute in rural areas and frequently require coordinated clinical and community-based responses. Applicants are expected to think about how their network model can support integrated approaches to behavioral health and other essential services while improving overall community impact.

The RHND Program outlines several overarching goals that funded projects should advance. These include improving access and quality of care in rural areas through sustainable programs created by network collaboration, preparing networks for the transition to value-based payment and population health approaches, demonstrating improved health outcomes and measurable community impact, promoting long-term network sustainability through the creation of diverse products and services, and using or adapting evidence-based or promising practice models in delivering care. The emphasis on evidence-based or promising practices signals that projects should not be purely experimental; they should be grounded in approaches with some track record or credible rationale, with adaptation as needed for rural contexts.

Another key expectation is broad and diverse network membership. HRSA signals that strong rural networks should include both traditional and non-traditional partners, since many drivers of population health sit outside the walls of a clinic or hospital. Examples of potential network participants include behavioral health organizations, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, community health centers, community and social service organizations, and tribal organizations. The notice also stresses that collaborative experience among network partners matters, because future delivery system reforms and reimbursement changes will likely require cross-sector participation and shared accountability for quality improvement. In other words, the program is not just funding isolated service expansions; it is encouraging rural communities to build durable systems capable of coordinated performance under evolving payment and care models.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a discretionary grant (Funding Opportunity Number HRSA 20-025) under the health funding category and CFDA 93.912. The posting date was August 14, 2019, with an original closing date of November 25, 2019. The award ceiling listed is $300,000, and HRSA anticipated making about 46 awards. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the official notice, which typically means applicants must carefully confirm that their network structure and lead applicant organization meet HRSA requirements.

Overall, the RHND Program funds rural health care networks that can show they are prepared to function as integrated systems, not just collections of partners. It aims to help these networks deliver more coordinated and higher-quality care, expand access to essential services, address urgent priorities like mental health and substance use, and build the organizational and operational foundation needed for value-based payment and long-term sustainability in rural health care.

  • The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Health Network Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.912.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Aug 14, 2019.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 25, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 46 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for HRSA 20 025

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Rural Health Network Development (RHND) Program FAQs

What is the Rural Health Network Development (RHND) Program?

The Rural Health Network Development (RHND) Program is a federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It funds integrated rural health care networks to strengthen health care delivery in rural communities.

What is the main purpose of the RHND Program?

The program is designed to strengthen health care in rural communities by supporting rural networks that function as coordinated systems. The core idea is that rural communities can improve services and outcomes when multiple partners work together as a true system rather than operating as separate entities.

What kind of networks is RHND trying to fund?

RHND targets networks that are already working together in a coordinated way and have moved beyond loose collaboration. HRSA is looking for networks that have meaningfully combined functions across participating organizations, supported by capable staff and a well-functioning network board.

Does the program fund brand-new partnerships or early-stage collaborations?

Based on the description provided, RHND specifically targets networks that have progressed beyond loose collaboration and are already integrated in meaningful ways. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate coordinated operations rather than just an intention to collaborate.

What are the three legislative aims RHND expects funded networks to pursue?

Funded networks are expected to pursue three aims: (1) achieve efficiencies in how rural health care is delivered and managed, (2) expand access to essential services while improving coordination and quality, and (3) strengthen the rural health care system so it can better withstand workforce, financial, and policy pressures.

What does RHND mean by improving efficiencies?

The opportunity emphasizes improving how rural health care is delivered and managed through more efficient network-based approaches. This generally points to coordinated delivery and shared or combined functions across organizations, rather than duplicative or fragmented operations.

How does RHND address access, coordination, and quality?

RHND emphasizes expanding access to essential services while also improving care coordination and quality. The program promotes network models that link partners across settings and roles so services are better aligned and patients experience more coordinated care.

Why does RHND focus on strengthening the rural health care system overall?

The program explicitly aims to help rural systems withstand common pressures in rural health care, including workforce challenges, financial constraints, and policy changes. Building a durable network is treated as a strategy for long-term resilience.

Are funded projects expected to be driven by local community needs?

Yes. RHND places a strong emphasis on solutions driven by local needs identified by the community itself, rather than one-size-fits-all models. Applicants are expected to design network activities around local priorities and conditions.

How does RHND relate to value-based care and population health management?

A major theme is helping rural networks position themselves for value-based care and population health management. This includes building the ability to manage health outcomes for groups of patients, measure performance, coordinate care across settings, and improve quality in ways that align with emerging reimbursement models.

What kinds of capabilities are implied by population health management in this program?

The description highlights capabilities such as measuring performance, coordinating care across settings, improving quality, and managing outcomes for groups of patients. It also notes the need for more robust data and quality improvement capabilities to support evolving delivery and financing models.

Does RHND prioritize mental health and substance use disorder work?

Yes. The opportunity highlights alignment with HHS priorities, particularly mental health and substance use disorder. It recognizes these needs are often acute in rural areas and may require coordinated clinical and community-based responses.

Is behavioral health integration relevant to RHND projects?

Yes. Applicants are expected to consider how their network model can support integrated approaches to behavioral health and other essential services while improving overall community impact.

What overarching goals should RHND-funded projects advance?

The program outlines goals including: improving access and quality through sustainable programs created by network collaboration; preparing networks for the transition to value-based payment and population health approaches; demonstrating improved health outcomes and measurable community impact; promoting long-term network sustainability through diverse products and services; and using or adapting evidence-based or promising practice models in delivering care.

Are projects required to show measurable results?

Yes. The program emphasizes demonstrating improved health outcomes and measurable community impact, indicating that applicants should be prepared to track and show results tied to their network strategy.

What does RHND mean by long-term network sustainability?

The opportunity stresses promoting sustainability by creating diverse products and services through the network. This suggests HRSA expects networks to build durable capabilities and offerings that can continue beyond the grant period.

Do projects need to use evidence-based or promising practices?

Yes. RHND emphasizes using or adapting evidence-based or promising practice models. The description signals that projects should not be purely experimental and should be grounded in approaches with a track record or credible rationale, adapted as needed for rural contexts.

What is meant by a "broad and diverse" network membership?

HRSA signals that strong rural networks include both traditional and non-traditional partners, recognizing that many drivers of population health exist outside clinical settings. The program values cross-sector participation as part of building an integrated system.

What are examples of organizations that could participate in an RHND network?

Examples mentioned include behavioral health organizations, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, community health centers, community and social service organizations, and tribal organizations.

Why does RHND care about the collaborative experience of network partners?

The notice stresses that collaborative experience matters because delivery system reforms and reimbursement changes are likely to require cross-sector participation and shared accountability for quality improvement. RHND is encouraging rural communities to build durable systems capable of coordinated performance under evolving models.

Is this grant meant to fund isolated service expansions?

The description indicates RHND is not just funding isolated service expansions. It is encouraging rural communities to build durable systems with coordinated performance, shared accountability, and network-based capabilities that align with changing payment and care models.

Which federal agency administers RHND?

The program is administered by HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration), an agency within HHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for RHND?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is HRSA 20-025.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number provided is 93.912.

What type of grant is RHND?

It is identified as a discretionary grant opportunity under the health funding category.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed is $300,000.

How many awards did HRSA anticipate making?

HRSA anticipated making about 46 awards.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posting date was August 14, 2019, and the original closing date was November 25, 2019.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the official notice. This typically means applicants should carefully confirm that their network structure and the lead applicant organization meet HRSA requirements described in the full announcement.

What should an applicant be ready to demonstrate to be competitive?

Based on the description, applicants should be ready to show that their network already operates in an integrated, coordinated way; has combined functions across organizations; has capable staff and a well-functioning network board; is addressing community-identified needs; is preparing for value-based care and population health management; and can demonstrate measurable outcomes and community impact.

How does RHND view changes in health care delivery and financing?

The program encourages rural networks to prepare for ongoing changes in delivery and financing, including shifts that may require new partnerships, new workflows, and stronger data and quality improvement capabilities.

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