Most of the attention around Arizona’s new Rural Health Transformation Program has been focused on the big competitive grants being released by AHCCCS.
But another part of the program is starting to move somewhat under the radar. ADHS recently awarded funds to county health departments through Intergovernmental Agreements—or IGAs.
ADHS (according to ADOA procurement) has agreements with at least 10 counties: Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Greenlee, La Paz, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Yavapai and Yuma.
The state budgeted up to $5M for rural maternal-fetal health and another $12 million for chronic disease prevention and management, with ADHS responsible for much of the work.
For example, the chronic-disease plan includes up to $4.9M for county health departments. The money can support evidence-based work involving chronic disease, nutrition and physical activity, injury prevention, behavioral health, youth substance-use prevention and other community health priorities.
These aren’t competitive grants where counties compete with one another. ADHS designed these as formula-based awards, using a base amount and rural population, with priority for Arizona’s fully rural counties.
The maternal-health piece works similarly, using county agreements to support disease investigation, congenital syphilis prevention, screening and other maternal-health interventions.
This is a good use of the Rural Health Transformation money. Local health departments already know their communities, already have the public-health infrastructure in place, and don’t need another elaborate competitive grant process to get to work.
The encouraging part is that some of the money is finally beginning to move.
OEO Releases First Rural Health Transformation Grant
The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity finally released its first competitive grant under Arizona’s Rural Health Transformation Program.
It’s called the Rural Health Transformation Program Transition to Practice Grant, and $3M is available, with the Office expecting to make three awards of about $1M.
The purpose is to help rural healthcare organizations expand their ability to train, mentor and transition newly licensed healthcare professionals into practice.
Projects can include things like expanding clinical training opportunities, developing specialty training and mentoring programs, increasing the number of rural preceptors, and improving the pipeline for newly licensed professionals entering rural practice.
The grant covers a broad range of healthcare professions, including nurses, advanced-practice nurses, behavioral health professionals, allied health workers, pharmacists, dental professionals, EMS personnel and community health workers.
Eligible applicants include rural hospitals, clinics, federally qualified health centers, behavioral health organizations, EMS agencies, private healthcare providers and practice groups, Tribal governments and Tribal health programs, state agencies, nonprofits and professional associations.
There is no required matching contribution.
Applications opened September 15. Written questions are due September 25, and completed applications are due October 13 at 5 p.m. Arizona time.
OEO says it plans to announce awards by October 23 and execute grant agreements by October 30.
That timeline is important because October 30 is Arizona’s deadline to obligate its first-year Rural Health Transformation funds.
OEO is responsible for a substantial part of Arizona’s Rural Health Transformation workforce strategy—roughly $43M per year aimed at rural workforce development, recruitment, retention, training and education.
So while this first grant is just the tip of the tardy iceberg, it’s something.
