The initiatives in Indiana RHTP include a broad group of partners, including, but not limited to rural health hospitals and clinics; FQHCs and critical access hospitals located in or serving rural communities.
Indiana presented 12 initiatives in the application submitted to CMS. There are 11 statewide initiatives and one regional grant initiative to be implemented at the regional level with eight defined regions. The narrative of the application can be found here.
A statewide initiative aligns and builds on Gov. Mike Braun’s Make Indiana Healthy Again plan. Statewide initiatives aim to support rural communities and are crucial for addressing broad issues, such as workforce development, as they allow for consistency and resource allocation across regions. Regional grants are tailored to local stakeholders that can identify opportunities for resource sharing and tackle specific community needs, including transportation. While problems are similar throughout rural Indiana, solutions are unique to the challenges and partners available within a region.
Indiana RHTP will work in tandem with HFI initiatives. Funding will be used to expand, rather than duplicate, current programs already under way to create positive health outcomes for more Hoosiers.
Program funding is appropriated from FY2026 through FY2030. Each federal fiscal year’s funding aligns with five budget periods. For each budget period, recipients will have until the end of the following federal fiscal year to spend awarded funding.
Once Indiana submitted the application on Nov 5, new initiatives cannot be added; however, they can evolve during the life of the grant.
Funding will be dispersed in multiple ways, depending on the initiative. All disbursed funds must be approved to support the implementation of the initiative tied to specific outcomes.
The Indiana initiatives were developed to align with the CMS purpose for RHTP that investments that will transform how healthcare is delivered in rural communities, focused on addressing barriers to both receiving and providing care to those in rural communities. The initiatives align with the approved use of funds to:
- Make Rural America Healthy Again
- Sustain access to care
- Develop workforce
- Innovate care models
- Implement innovative technology
The state will present a public, statewide information session and the recordings will be posted to the Grow Indiana website. In support of regional grant application development, regional grant stakeholder meetings will also be held for leaders at the local level.
There are no restrictions. Vendors can find information on how to apply for funding on the Indiana Department of Administration opportunities website.
The expenditure timeline is applicable to the recipient.
No, costs should not be incurred for expenses otherwise able to be reimbursed by Medicare/Medicaid.