42 U.S.C. § 254c — Rural health care services outreach, rural health network development, and small health care provider quality improvement grant programs

(a) This section funds grants to expand health care delivery in rural areas, to build integrated rural health networks, and to improve quality at small rural health providers. (b) Definitions: "Director" means the Director described in (d). "Federally qualified health center" and "rural health clinic" have the same meaning as in section 1395x(aa). "Health professional shortage area" means one designated under section 254e. "Medically underserved community" has the meaning given in section 295p(6). "Medically underserved population" has the meaning given in section 254b(b)(3). (c) The Secretary must set up, under section 241, a small health care provider quality improvement grant program. (d) These three grant programs are run by the Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy at HRSA, working with state rural health offices or similar state agencies. The Director can award: outreach grants under (e); network development grants under (f); and quality improvement grants under (g). (e) Rural health care services outreach grants. The Director may fund projects, for up to 5 years, that expand and improve rural health services through community engagement and proven or promising models. To qualify, an applicant must have experience serving (or the ability to serve) underserved rural populations, represent a group of 3 or more nonprofit or for-profit health providers, and not have gotten a grant for the same or similar project before — unless it is now expanding the project's scope or service area. Applications must describe the project, how it meets rural health needs, how the community will be involved, a plan to keep the project going after federal funding ends, how the project will be evaluated, and any other information the Secretary wants. (f) Rural health network development grants. The Director may fund, for up to 5 years, projects that plan, build, and run integrated rural health networks to gain efficiencies, expand and improve access to basic care, and strengthen rural health care overall. Eligibility is similar to (e): experience serving rural populations, a network of 3 or more providers, and no repeat grants for the same project (except earlier planning grants). Applications must cover the project description, why federal help is needed, the network's history of working together and readiness to integrate, how the community benefits and gets involved, how access will improve, a sustainability plan, an evaluation plan, and other required information. (g) Small health care provider quality improvement grants. The Director may fund, for 1 to 5 years, quality-improvement work like better care coordination, chronic disease management, and patient outcomes. To qualify, an entity must be a rural public or nonprofit provider (such as a critical access hospital or rural health clinic), or another rural provider or network the Secretary identifies as a key local or regional care source — and must not have already gotten a grant for the same or similar project. Applications need the project description, why federal help is needed, how quality will keep improving, how access will increase, a sustainability plan, an evaluation plan, and other required information. At least 50% of this money must go to providers serving rural areas. (h) General requirements. Grant money under this section can't be used to buy or build real property or for construction. The Secretary must coordinate these grant programs with other federal and state agencies and nonprofits running similar programs, to avoid waste. The Secretary should generally favor applicants that are in health professional shortage areas or medically underserved communities (or that serve medically underserved populations), or that focus on primary care, wellness, and prevention. (i) The Secretary must report to the Senate HELP Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee on these grant programs' activities and results — including their effect on rural residents with chronic conditions — no later than 4 years after March 27, 2020, and every 5 years after that. (j) Congress authorized $79,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this section.