Illinois Rural Health Transformation Program Grants

Illinois Rural Health Transformation Program Grants is sponsored by Illinois Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This program offers funding opportunities to help implement Illinois-approved RHTP initiatives and activities, which aim to improve rural health.

Rural Health Transformation Program - Transforming Rural Healthcare Delivery, Hospital Transformation Rural Health Transformation Program - Transforming Rural Healthcare Delivery, Hospital Transformation The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program was designed to empower states to strengthen rural communities by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes through transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem.

Illinois’ Rural Health Transformation Program will support rural communities across the State of Illinois in improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming healthcare delivery. This program seeks to reshape healthcare delivery to better align with community needs and improve the sustainability of rural systems of care.

Program Year 1 will support Planning Grants for awardees to develop a regionally tailored and data driven transformation plan that identifies delivery system gaps and unmet community needs and outlines strategies to transform service lines, deploy new models of care delivery, and test sustainable VBP (Value-Based Purchasing) methodologies.

Planning awards will also be used to establish regional partnerships, participate in technical assistance and build initial infrastructure. Planning Grant awardees may apply for competitive Implementation awards for years 2-5.

Implementation awards may be used to implement transformation plans, including supporting service line transformation; developing sustainable, high-quality care models through investment to establish regional partnerships; hiring clinical and non-clinical staff across hospitals and partnership entities to carry out the strategies identified in the transformation plan; and supporting limited capital expenditures for renovations to transition lines of service.

All RHT applicants must complete the Euna application. Once the completed application is received and approved, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services will collaborate with each subaward to complete the grant award process.

This funding opportunity is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $193,418,216. 21 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

The program is designed as a phased initiative that provides planning support to all eligible applicants in Year 1 and competitive implementation funding in Years 2–5.

Illinois will award funding to eligible applicants in two phases: Year 1: Funding supports Planning Grant awardees to complete foundational planning including submission of Transformation Plans, establishing regional partnerships, engaging with the Office of Medicaid Innovation (OMI), and establishing program infrastructure.

Years 2-5: Funding supports implementation of approved Transformation Plans that aim to improve access, quality, care coordination, and financial sustainability for rural communities in Illinois. Healthcare And Family Serv https://officeofmedicaidinnovation. jotform.

com/form/rural-health-transformation-program Rural Health Transformation Adriana Perez, Angela Kung Funding Opportunity Number Agency Opportunity Number Assistance Listings Number https://il. amplifund. com/Public/Opportunities/Details/718067c2-ffd1-4f38-ad4f-082e500132f3 Federal Or Federal Pass Through Funding Source Description This grant program utilizes federal CMS Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program funds.

Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is up to $28,191,393. 00, subject to continued funding and program approval. Funding in future years is subject to CMS’s continuation, review, and award of future Rural Health Transformation funding.

The release of this NOFO does not obligate the Department to make an award. The total amount of funding $28,191,393. 00 will be allocated equally among eligible hospitals.

If all 97 eligible hospitals apply, this will result in an award amount of approximately $290,000 per hospital. HFS expects to distribute funds evenly among eligible applicants. However, if fewer eligible applicants apply than expected, HFS may increase award amounts for applicants that meet all requirements, up to the maximum allowable funding.

All proposed budgets are subject to HFS review and approval and may be adjusted as needed. See Part 2: Funding Information Expected Number of Awards Indirect Cost Description In order to charge indirect costs to a grant, the applicant organization must have an annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). There are three types of NICRAs: a) Federally Negotiated Rate.

Organizations that receive direct federal funding, may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. The organization must provide a copy of the federally NICRA.

b) State Negotiated Rate. The organization may negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate. If an organization has not previously established in indirect cost rate, an indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted through the GATA Grantee Portal no later than three months after receipt of a Notice of State Award (NOSA).

If an organization previously established an indirect cost rate, the organization must annually submit a new indirect cost proposal through the GATA Grantee Portal within six months after the close of the grantee’s fiscal year. c) De Minimis Rate.

An organization that has never negotiated an indirect cost rate with the Federal Government of the State of Illinois is eligible to elect a de minimis rate of 15% of modified total direct cost (MTDC). Once established, the De Minimis Rate may be used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in order to accept the De Minimis Rate.

All grantees must complete an indirect cost rate negotiation or elect the De Minimis Rate to claim indirect costs. Indirect costs claimed without a negotiated rate or a De Minimis Rate election on record in the GATA Grantee Portal indirect cost rate system may be subject to disallowance.

Restrictions on Indirect Costs Citation Governing Indirect Cost Restriction Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21 Submission Timeline Additional Information Applicants will be screened for completeness including GATA pre-qualification and ICQ submission for the current state fiscal year through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal at www. grants. illinois.

gov/portal. Applicant must identify an individual who will submit the application via the Euna system, this person will serve as the Primary Contact for this application. However, more than one individual can have access to and complete components of the application via Euna.

The Primary Contact must submit the application, including attachments, via Euna. To be considered for funding, the application must be completed and submitted via the Euna system no later than 4:00 p. m.

Central Time (CT) Allow Multiple Applications Application Review Start Date / Pre-Qualification Deadline Other Submission Requirements Applicants must upload all required documents in the designated sections of this opportunity. HFS will not accept documents sent by email, mail, or any method outside of the Euna system.

For Planning Grant awardees ready to execute approved Transformation Plans, HFS anticipates that hospitals will apply for continued Years 2 – 5 competitive Implementation Grants by December 2026. Grant proposals submitted under this opportunity will be reviewed solely on a competitive/noncompetitive basis.

Application materials must address all components of this opportunity and demonstrate both a need for the program and an ability to successfully implement the program. HFS will review and award applications based on completeness, budget requirements, clear and detailed responses to the program narrative questions, and inclusion of all mandatory program elements.

Question Submission Information Question Submission Open Date Question Submission Close Date Question Submission Additional Information Please use this link for any questions: https://officeofmedicaidinnovation. jotform. com/form/rural-health-transformation-program Applicant Eligibility Information Funding through this program is available to applicants that meet all the following criteria: 1.

Is licensed by Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to do business in the State of Illinois pursuant to 210 ILCS 85/1 as a hospital; 2. Is in good standing, in accordance with state and federal requirements including but not limited to GATA requirements and 42 CFR § 482; and 3. Is a general short-term acute hospital that is a CMS designated Critical Access Hospital or meets minimum Inpatient Discharge Threshold requirements.

Both the methodology and a list of all eligible hospitals according to this threshold are provided in Appendix A: Eligibility Criteria and Rurality Threshold Methodology and Eligible Hospitals. Only applicants that are determined to meet the above criteria will be eligible to participate in this program and receive grant funding.

Beneficiary Eligibility Information The beneficiaries of the Transforming Rural Healthcare Delivery initiative will be residents of rural communities where access to essential health services is limited by geographic isolation, workforce shortages and resource constraints. This initiative will help to ensure all residents of the State of Illinois will have access to high-quality, sustainable care.

Credentials Documentation Eligibility Information Registration and pre-qualification through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal is required, www. grants. illinois.

gov/portal. Additional Eligibility Information HFS may not issue a grant award until the applicant has complied with all applicable SAM requirements, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time HFS is ready to make an award, HFS may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a grant award. Additional Information URL https://hfs.

illinois. gov/info/fedresctr/ruralhealthtp. html Award Administration Information Successful applicants will receive a Notice of State Award (NOSA) to initiate the grant agreement phase.

During this phase, the selected applicant(s) will be contacted by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop a Uniform Grant Agreement, which can be months long process depending on complexity, cooperation and conformity with all applicable federal and state laws. HFS reserves the right to issue a reduced award, or not to issue any award if it is in the Department’s best interest to do so.

The NOSA is not an authorization to begin performance or incur costs. Administrative and National Policy Requirements In addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the approved project proposal and budget, agencies selected for funding must comply with applicable grant terms and conditions and other legal requirements, including the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program funds, and GATA.

Additional programmatic and administrative special conditions may be required. Program objectives include reshaping and right sizing hospital service delivery by filling care gaps, transforming service lines, and shifting business models to better align with community needs and increase the number of rural patients served.

This program will also increase access to care by improving the long-term financial viability of rural hospitals through testing of value-based payment models. Recipients must submit periodic financial reports, periodic performance reports, final financial and performance reports, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with the 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidelines.

Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent. State Awarding Agency Contacts Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Please use this link for questions: https://officeofmedicaidinnovation. jotform.

com/form/rural-health-transformation-program HFS reserves the right to reject incomplete proposals, proposals that include unswallowable activities, proposals that do not meet eligibility or program requirements, and proposals that are otherwise unsatisfactory. The HFS may invite applicants to answer clarifying questions and modify budgets that include unallowable or unreasonable costs.

The application budgets will be reviewed for allowability, completeness, and cost-effectiveness. During the budget review HFS may require budget modifications that do not materially change the nature of the program.

Merit Review Appeal Process In alignment with the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) and Federal Uniform Guidance, all Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) discretionary grants are required to conduct a merit review for all submitted grant applications which must include a Merit Review Appeal Process. For discretionary grants, only the evaluation process is subject to appeal.

Evaluation scores or funding determinations/outcomes may not be contested and will not be considered by the Department's Appeals Review Officer (ARO).

To submit an appeal, the appealing party must: Submit an appeal in writing within 14 calendar days of the date of the denial letter The appeal must contain the following information: The name and address of the appealing party An identification of the grant (i.e. CSFA number) The reason(s) for the appeal; and Any supporting documentation of the request Appeals should be submitted to: HFS. RHTP@illinois.

gov The ARO must review the submitted Appeal Request Form for completeness and acknowledge receipt of the appeal within 14 calendar days from the date the appeal was received. The ARO will consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by the agency within the time period set in the request.

The ARO shall respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required.

Documentation of the appeal determination shall be sent to the appealing party and must include: Rationale for the determination Appeals resolutions may be deferred pending a judicial or administrative determination when actions concerning the appeal have commenced in a court or administrative body. This application is subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Any information that the applicant believes should be exempt under FOIA should clearly highlight the information that is exempt, and the basis of the exemption.

Funding through this program is available to applicants that meet all the following criteria: Is licensed by Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to do business in the State of Illinois pursuant to 210 ILCS 85/1 as a hospital; Is in good standing, in accordance with state and federal requirements including but not limited to GATA requirements and 42 CFR § 482; and Is a general short-term acute hospital that is a CMS designated Critical Access Hospital or meets minimum Inpatient Discharge Threshold requirements.

Both the methodology and a list of all eligible hospitals according to this threshold are provided in Appendix A: Eligibility Criteria and Rurality Threshold Methodology and Eligible Hospitals. Only applicants that are determined to meet the above criteria will be eligible to participate in this program and receive grant funding.

Long-term acute care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and children’s hospitals will not be eligible to apply as primary applicants but may participate as partners of an awardee. Awards will be made to eligible organizations listed in the Appendices that submit complete applications. Applications must address all requirements in this NOFO and meet the eligibility criteria described in this opportunity.

Review and Selection Process All applications will be screened for completeness including GATA pre-qualification and ICQ submission for the current state fiscal year. Selection of proposals that pass the screening process will be based on responsiveness to Illinois’ RHT program goals.

HFS reserves the right to reject incomplete proposals, proposals that include unallowable activities, proposals that do not meet eligibility or program requirements, and proposals that are otherwise unsatisfactory. HFS may invite applicants to answer clarifying questions and modify budgets that include unallowable or unreasonable costs. NOFO application budgets will be reviewed for allowability, completeness, and cost-effectiveness.

A budget review of all grants awarded may require budget modifications that do not materially change the nature of the program. Anticipated Announcement Dates