Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program | HRSA 22 093

Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 22 093

The Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, designed to help rural primary care providers strengthen how they deliver care through structured quality improvement (QI) efforts. The program focuses on supporting both the planning and implementation of QI activities in rural settings, especially among small providers and organizations that often have limited staff, limited infrastructure, and fewer resources to build robust improvement systems on their own. The overall intent is to help rural health care organizations build a lasting culture of quality while improving patient care in ways that are practical, measurable, and sustainable.

This funding targets rural-serving providers such as Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and other rural health care service providers, as well as networks of rural providers working together. While forming a network is not required, HRSA strongly encourages applicants to collaborate and expand partnerships, and it specifically suggests considering inclusion of an RHC as part of a proposed network. The reasoning is straightforward: rural communities often rely on a small number of organizations to meet a broad range of needs, so coordinated approaches can increase reach, reduce duplication, and make improvements more durable across the local care continuum.

The program goal is to promote cost-effective, coordinated, culturally appropriate, and equitable health care services in rural primary care settings. In practical terms, that means applicants are expected to improve how care is organized and delivered, not just add isolated services. Core program objectives highlight stronger care coordination, better chronic disease management, and improved patient health outcomes. Another major objective is helping rural providers prepare for quality reporting requirements and the increasing shift toward pay-for-performance and value-based payment models, where reimbursement is tied to measured quality and outcomes. This is especially important for small rural organizations that may be behind on reporting capacity, data systems, and standardized workflows.

A key requirement is that applicants use an evidence-based model or a well-supported promising practice, rather than building a brand-new approach from scratch without proof. By the end of the four-year period of performance, funded projects must be able to demonstrate progress in three specific impact areas: improved health outcomes, expanded capacity for essential health care services, and increased financial sustainability. These three areas reflect HRSA's emphasis on results that matter to patients, operational capabilities that allow rural sites to keep services available locally, and business stability so improvements can continue after the grant ends.

Allowable and expected activities can include direct clinical services for rural residents as well as community health and prevention efforts. HRSA also strongly encourages applicants to confront the underlying drivers of rural health disparities, particularly those contributing to the five leading causes of avoidable death: heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury and substance use, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke. In other words, proposals are expected to connect quality improvement work to the real health burdens affecting rural populations, rather than treating QI as a purely administrative exercise.

Examples from prior awardees illustrate the types of work HRSA views as aligned with program priorities. Past projects have focused on coordinating care among multiple network members, adopting and using newer Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) billing codes to support chronic care management under traditional fee-for-service Medicare, and integrating mental and behavioral health services into rural primary care. These examples reflect a mix of clinical redesign, operational changes, and financing strategies, which fits the program's dual emphasis on better outcomes and stronger sustainability. HRSA also points applicants to the program's Sourcebook and Grantee Directory as references for what has been funded and how previous projects were structured.

From the opportunity details provided, the funding opportunity number is HRSA-22-093, with assistance listing (CFDA) 93.912. The award ceiling is $200,000, and HRSA anticipated making around 40 awards. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations, along with additional eligible entities described in the full eligibility section of the notice. The notice was created on December 21, 2021, and the original closing date was March 21, 2022.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.912.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 21, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 21, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HRSA 22 093

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