Center Awarded HRSA Cooperative Agreement to Support Sustainability of Rural Hospitals

The National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center) has been awarded a three-year, nearly $12 million cooperative agreement from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide in-depth technical assistance to rural hospitals across the country — to help them add or expand health care services to meet community needs and keep care close to home.

The ultimate goal of the Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program is to strengthen rural health care delivery nationwide by improving hospital financial stability.

“We’re excited to continue our long-standing partnership with HRSA and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to support the country’s rural hospitals,” said Sally Buck, The Center’s CEO. “Rural hospitals serve vital roles in our communities: They provide access to care for millions of Americans. They help reduce health disparities. They’re an economic engine, often the largest employer in their community. And we welcome the opportunity to continue working with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to ensure that rural hospitals remain open and able to provide care in their communities.”

The Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program expects to assist up to 20 hospitals annually — eight through in-depth technical assistance and an additional 12 hospitals through participation in a learning collaborative.

Center staff, alongside experts from national partner organizations, will support rural hospitals with financial and operational assessments, education, coaching and funding for the purchase of equipment — all of which is designed to provide hospitals with the tools needed to bolster patient volume, optimize service utilization and improve cash flow.

The Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program expects to assist up to 20 hospitals annually — eight through in-depth technical assistance and an additional 12 hospitals through participation in a learning collaborative.

The Center currently manages four other HRSA-funded programs: the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program, the Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project, the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program, and the Technical Assistance and Services Center.