The Louisiana Department of Health has opened two Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) providing a combined $44.9 million to ensure rural healthcare providers have the facilities, infrastructure and delivery needed to support their communities.
The Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability will administrate the opportunities, utilizing funding from the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. These programs include the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the Telehealth Infrastructure Program (TIP).
The CIP has been allocated $39.9 million for Budget Year 1. These awards will cover one-time capital projects that seek to reinforce rural healthcare infrastructure by renovating, expanding or modernizing facilities in underserved areas. Applications are due by July 10.
To be considered, projects must demonstrate a clear link between proposed capital investments and their impact on providing accessible healthcare for rural communities. These typically include initiatives that improve infrastructure, facility capacity and operational readiness. Projects may also expand and improve access to essential healthcare services in rural and underserved communities.
Other qualifying projects include those that modernize clinical facilities or medical equipment and improve quality, patient experience, workforce support and service delivery capacity for high-need, medically underserved populations. Additional measures include implementing innovative and scalable models of care delivery designed to comprehensively enhance healthcare in these communities.
Entities that may apply for funding include:
- Rural Health Clinics.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers.
- Critical Access Hospitals.
- Rural hospitals.
- Rural EMS providers.
- Rural behavioral health or substance use providers.
- Independent rural practices.
If chosen, recipients may receive up to $10 million per award.
The RHT Program will distribute the remaining $5 million to enhance telehealth infrastructure in rural Louisiana. These improvements will help increase access to essential care in underserved parishes. Applications are due by July 10.
Like with the CIP, selected infrastructure projects must prove they have a direct, beneficial impact on rural health outcomes and enhance the recipient’s capacity to provide remote care. Qualifying initiatives should expand access to healthcare services, including:
- Maternal and prenatal health.
- Behavioral health and psychiatric care.
- Chronic disease management.
- Substance use disorder treatment and recovery services.
- Emergency specialty consultation and care coordination.
- Cancer treatment.
- Remote patient monitoring and care management services.
Entities that may apply for funding must quality as rural organizations and be located in qualifying geographic locations with eligible rural patient populations. Award will range between $50,000 and $500,000 per recipient.
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