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Rural Provider Access and Affordability Stimulus Advisory Committee

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

ApplicantCountyAccess or AffordabilityProject NameEstimated Award
Arkansas Valley Regional Medical CenterOteroAccessSoutheastern Colorado Rural$500,000
Colorado Canyons Hospital and Medical CenterMesaAffordabilityPharmacy Equipment$550,000
Delta County Memorial HospitalDeltaAffordabilityNew Electronic Health Record$650,000
Estes Park HealthLarimerAccessReplacement Beds$150,000
Gunnison Valley HealthGunnisonAffordabilityUpgrade and Integrate EHR$650,000
Haxtun Hospital DistrictPhillipsAccessAccess to Care through Equipment$200,000
Keefe Memorial Health Service DistrictCheyenneAffordabilityDigital Records$350,000
Kit Carson County Health Service DistrictKit CarsonAccessBed Replacement Project$100,000
Kit Carson County Health Service DistrictKit CarsonAccessCardiac Rehabilitation Program$200,000
Lincoln Community HospitalLincolnAffordabilityCommunity Paramedicine Program$350,000
Melissa Memorial HospitalPhillipsAccessCare Coordination and Enhanced Sustainability$650,000
Middle Park Medical CenterGrandAccessPsychiatric Nurse Practitioner$550,000
Mt. San Rafael HospitalLas AnimasAccessRural Health Clinic Remodel and Reorganization$650,000
Pagosa Springs Medical CenterArchuletaAffordabilityOxygen Generation Building and IT Upgrade$400,000
Rangely District HospitalRio BlancoAffordabilityNeurology Department$650,000
Rio Grande HospitalRio GrandeAccessHousing$600,000
San Luis Valley Health Conejos County HospitalConejosAccessExpanded BH Coordination$400,000
San Luis Valley Health Regional Medical CenterAlamosaAffordabilityMRI Modernization$650,000
Spanish Peaks Regional Health CenterHuerfanoAccessAdvanced Mammography Machine$650,000
St. Vincent General Hospital DistrictLakeAccessSpine Surgery Equipment$400,000
The Memorial HospitalMoffatAffordabilityRadiology Department Upgrade$300,000
Weisbrod Memorial County HospitalKiowaAccessRural Clinic Sheridan$100,000
Wray Community District HospitalYumaAccessRadiology Capital Project$650,000
Yuma District HospitalYumaAffordabilityUltrasound 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

Contact Us

Nancy Dolson
nancy.dolson@state.co.us
303-866-3698