The Rural Health Network Advancement Program is a pilot initiative to support networks comprised of independent rural hospitals and clinics in integrated network collaboration. It bridges support to offset small scale structural barriers that make it difficult for rural providers to compete in an increasingly consolidated health care system landscape and is designed to help bring economic efficiencies to small independent rural entities by expanding and enhancing their ability to strengthen operations, preserve existing services, and build new lines of care through integrated network collaboration that preserves local autonomy.

Eligible applicants include domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities including:Domestic faith-based and community-based organizationsTribes and tribal organizationsFederally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)Community Health CentersRural Health Clinics (RHCs)Hospitals,Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH) The applicant organization may be located in a rural or urban area, but must have demonstrated experience serving, or capacity to serve, populations in rural areas.

Maribel Nunez mnunez@hrsa.gov