North Carolina State Designated Rural Health Centers Support Grants

Kim McNeil
kimberly.r.mcneil@dhhs.nc.gov

The North Carolina Office of Rural Health provides funding for state-designated rural health centers which provide access to underserved populations who would otherwise be unable to receive needed primary care services due to geographic, economic, or other barriers. The program supports the development of sustainable models of care and partnerships with community-based organizations to secure access to transportation, food, housing, and personal violence resources.

Funding may be used for:

• Primary Care Access Plan (PCAP) - Assists North Carolina residents that cannot afford primary healthcare coverage by providing reimbursement for the following medically necessary onsite, face-to-face encounters: x-rays, in-house labs, surgery, practice provider services, prophylaxis, and telemedicine.
• Behavioral Health Access Plan (BHAP) Assists North Carolina residents that cannot afford behavioral health and mental health counseling services by providing reimbursement for on-site, face-to-face behavioral health encounters with the following providers: licensed social workers, advanced practice registered nurses, and psychiatrists.
• Operating/Infrastructure Funds support operations that provide access to primary care for the population in the service area through the creation of systems and processes that promote organizational sustainability

Funding preferences for each award category can be found in the application instructions.

Applicants must be working to increase access to primary care for rural, uninsured, and underinsured residents of North Carolina.

Eligibility criteria:

• Rural determination
• Health Professional Shortage Area determination
• Demonstrated unmet need
• County distress ranking of Tier 1 and Tier 2
• Proof that the organization is not owned, controlled, or operated by another entity and holds an active 501 c3 Status. (Independent Rural Health Clinics, and Provider Based Clinics operated by Rural and Critical Access Hospitals are eligible to apply.)
• Provider of primary health care services to all individuals in the defined service area regardless of ability to pay
• Ability or plan to enroll eligible providers in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement programs
• Documentation demonstrating that at least 10% of patient volume are Medicaid beneficiaries

Award ceiling: $250,500
Project period: 1 year with the option to renew for year 2 and year 3

Links to application instructions, forms, and templates and the online application are available on the program website.

Applicant webinar recording