Rural Health
Funding by Sponsor: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Minority Research Grant Program
Grants to to encourage innovative health services research that can directly contribute to the improvement of health outcomes for people from all minority populations, which includes racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with limited English proficiency, rural populations, and individuals adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model
A state total cost of care (TCOC) model that works to drive state and regional healthcare transformation and multi-payer alignment, with the goal of improving the total health of a state population and lowering costs. The AHEAD Model will provide participating states with funding and other tools to address rising healthcare costs and support health equity.

Quality Payment Program Exceptions
The opportunity to apply for exceptions to meeting Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program requirements. The 2 exceptions include extreme and uncontrollable circumstances and promoting interoperability hardship.

Medicare Incentive Payments in Health Professional Shortage Areas
Medicare bonus payments to physicians in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

CMS Health Equity Award Inactive
Awards for organizations that are using the CMS Framework for Health Equity to advance health equity and reduce disparities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes.

Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Hardship Exception Application Inactive
CMS eligible hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) may be exempted from the Medicare Promoting Interoperability payment adjustment if they can show that compliance with the requirement for being a meaningful EHR user would result in a significant hardship. Eligible hospitals and CAHs may submit a hardship exception application each year for a maximum of 5 years.

Medicare Shared Savings Program Advance Investment Payments Inactive
The Medicare Shared Savings Program offers providers and suppliers an opportunity to create an Accountable Care Organization that is held accountable for the quality, cost, and experience of care of an assigned Medicare fee-for-service beneficiary population through different payment models. A new payment option in 2023 is the Advance Investment Payments designed to encourage healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas to join together to form an Accountable Care Organizations.

Connecting Kids to Coverage Outreach to American Indian and Alaska Native Children Inactive
Grants for outreach to increase the enrollment and retention of American Indian and Alaska Native children, parents, and pregnant individuals in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (ACO REACH) Model Inactive
Payment model to test financial risk sharing options, as well as innovative approaches from Medicare Advantage (MA) and private sector risk sharing arrangements. ACO REACH seeks to improve quality of care and health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries through alignment of financial incentives to promote effective and appropriate care; the promotion of health equity among all model participants; emphasis on patient choice; strong monitoring to ensure that beneficiaries maintain access to care; and emphasis on care delivery for complex, chronically, and seriously ill populations.

Connecting Kids to Coverage Healthy Kids Outreach and Enrollment Grants Inactive
Grants to organizations that help families with children and pregnant individuals enroll in health coverage opportunities, including Medicaid, CHIP, and insurance affordability programs.