Rural Provider Access and Affordability Stimulus Grant Award
After careful consideration, the Rural Provider Access and Affordability Stimulus Advisory Committee and the HCPF Executive Director have reached a consensus for award recommendations for the Rural Provider Access and Affordability Stimulus Grant of $10,600,000.
As expected, we received applications for more funding than we had available. The highly sought-after grant program demonstrates partnership opportunities to improve health access and affordability in rural Colorado. Thirty-three hospitals submitted forty-seven applications requesting $25,300,000 in funding. Although all of these projects would impact access and affordability, only 42% of the requested funds can receive an award.
The committee developed an application and scoring framework to recommend awards that considered the financial need of the hospital, the impact to access to care and/or affordability of the project proposed, and the regional need for the project. More information on the application is available on the Rural Provider Access and Affordability Stimulus Grant Program website.
The committee’s hospital expertise came into play when discussing the projects and the awarding of grants. After careful consideration, the committee identified the following projects as the most impactful applications to improve affordability and/or access in rural Colorado. Executive Director Kim Bimestefer approved the Rural Provider Access and Affordability Stimulus Advisory Committee’s award recommendations.
Funding is contingent upon execution of a grant agreement, including the required subrecipient agreement, risk assessment checklist, and related documentation.
Information regarding additional grant opportunities is posted on HCPF’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant webpage.
Please direct questions to hcpf_RuralGrantProgram@state.co.us.
Grant Awardees
| Applicant | County | Access or Affordability | Project Name | Estimated Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center | Otero | Access | Southeastern Colorado Rural | $500,000 |
| Colorado Canyons Hospital and Medical Center | Mesa | Affordability | Pharmacy Equipment | $550,000 |
| Delta County Memorial Hospital | Delta | Affordability | New Electronic Health Record | $650,000 |
| Estes Park Health | Larimer | Access | Replacement Beds | $150,000 |
| Gunnison Valley Health | Gunnison | Affordability | Upgrade and Integrate EHR | $650,000 |
| Haxtun Hospital District | Phillips | Access | Access to Care through Equipment | $200,000 |
| Keefe Memorial Health Service District | Cheyenne | Affordability | Digital Records | $350,000 |
| Kit Carson County Health Service District | Kit Carson | Access | Bed Replacement Project | $100,000 |
| Kit Carson County Health Service District | Kit Carson | Access | Cardiac Rehabilitation Program | $200,000 |
| Lincoln Community Hospital | Lincoln | Affordability | Community Paramedicine Program | $350,000 |
| Melissa Memorial Hospital | Phillips | Access | Care Coordination and Enhanced Sustainability | $650,000 |
| Middle Park Medical Center | Grand | Access | Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | $550,000 |
| Mt. San Rafael Hospital | Las Animas | Access | Rural Health Clinic Remodel and Reorganization | $650,000 |
| Pagosa Springs Medical Center | Archuleta | Affordability | Oxygen Generation Building and IT Upgrade | $400,000 |
| Rangely District Hospital | Rio Blanco | Affordability | Neurology Department | $650,000 |
| Rio Grande Hospital | Rio Grande | Access | Housing | $600,000 |
| San Luis Valley Health Conejos County Hospital | Conejos | Access | Expanded BH Coordination | $400,000 |
| San Luis Valley Health Regional Medical Center | Alamosa | Affordability | MRI Modernization | $650,000 |
| Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center | Huerfano | Access | Advanced Mammography Machine | $650,000 |
| St. Vincent General Hospital District | Lake | Access | Spine Surgery Equipment | $400,000 |
| The Memorial Hospital | Moffat | Affordability | Radiology Department Upgrade | $300,000 |
| Weisbrod Memorial County Hospital | Kiowa | Access | Rural Clinic Sheridan | $100,000 |
| Wray Community District Hospital | Yuma | Access | Radiology Capital Project | $650,000 |
| Yuma District Hospital | Yuma | Affordability | Ultrasound Plus Project | $250,000 |
| Total Awarded | $10,600,000 |
Award Recommendation Framework
Award application framework
- Financial needs of the hospital
- The proposed project’s
- Impact on affordability and access
- Likelihood of completion and the timeline’s reasonableness
- Sustainability
- Regional need for the project
- Consideration of diversity, equity, and inclusion
- If applicable, the partner engagement, support, and collaboration
- The quality of the application
The committee also considered the regional dispersion of available funding in selecting award recommendations.
Our Members
The Advisory Committee was appointed by Department Executive Director, Kim Bimestefer, and consists of 9 voting members: one from the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, one from the Department of Public Health and Environment, one from the Office of eHealth Innovation, one from Colorado Rural Health Center, four from rural providers (2 of which are from frontier areas), and one rural health care consumer who is a member of the disabled community.
- Angela Koch, Rural Health Care Consumer
- Beth Saxton, Chief Executive Officer, Yuma District Hospital
- Kelea Nardini, Chief Nursing Officer, Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center
- Michelle Mills, Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Rural Health Center
- Nancy Dolson, Director of Special Financing, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
- Stephen Holloway, Health Equity and Access Branch Director, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Stephanie Pugliese, Director, Office of eHealth Innovation
- Zachary Weiderspon, Hospital Administrator, Conejos County/San Luis Valley Health
References
- Senate Bill 22-200 is the statute establishing the grant program, signed June 1, 2022.
Contact Us
Nancy Dolson
nancy.dolson@state.co.us
303-866-3698