Allowable Investments Search Tool

Identifying allowable investments for a SHIP-eligible hospital does not have to be a daunting task! This search tool created by SHIP-TA through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy helps state coordinators and hospitals navigate the possibilities.

Updated October 2024

Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys completed for inpatient services are an allowable use of SHIP funds. Beginning in January 2025, collections of HCAHPS will be allowed via web-based platforms.

NOTE: Currently, HCAHPS is the only allowable SHIP survey. Costs associated with conducting other types of CAHPS or non-HCAHPS surveys and assessments (including overhead, fees, payments, contractors, etc.) are unallowable. This category is consistently under review, and we encourage SHIP Coordinators to email SHIP-TA@ruralcenter.org and copy your PO with questions or concerns.

Updated January 2023

Costs for patient safety training to address performance issues related to Value-Based Program initiatives are allowable.

Examples may be training on recommendations, protocols, or information regarding best practices for patient safety and the quality of health care delivery or training on preserving confidentiality. According to the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), "safety" reduces the risk of harm and injury. Additionally, "quality" suggests striving for excellence and value.

Examples of allowable costs include but are not limited to:

Quality Reporting Data Collection Related Training or Software	HCAHPS Data Collection Process Related Training	Efficiency or Quality Improvement Training in Support of VBP Related Initiatives
Provider-Based Clinic Quality Measures Training	Active Shooter Training (Non-medical Response)

Note: Patient healthcare safety, security, and equipment that aids in treating a patient may also increase patient safety. The three are not the same, and direct patient care and hospital security measures are unallowable even if those measures increase patient safety measurements.

Allowable

Accountable Care Organization (ACO)

Payment Bundling (PB)/Prospective Payment System (PPS)

Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Investment

Updated February 2025

Subscriptions for products that provide critical services are becoming more prevalent in rural hospitals.

Generally, subscriptions for software are allowable. Please see the table below or email SHIP-TA@ruralcenter.org and copy your PO with questions or concerns.

Examples of allowable expenses include but are not limited to:

SHIP Quality Reporting (inc. MBQIP core measures)	HCAHPS	Quality Improvement Training
Telehealth Platforms (Excluding Provider Fees)	Disease Registries	Population Health Databases
ACO Subscriptions or Fees	ICD-10/11 Software Subscriptions	Cybersecurity and/or IT security software
HIPAA Compliance	Interoperability software	Provider Databases for Care Coordination
Data Collection (e.g. intake software or SDOH screening for Quality Improvement and/or Care Coordination)	EMR/EHR	Price Transparency software
S-10 Cost Reporting software	HIPAA-compliant web and video conferencing platforms exclusively for telehealth

Note: A common example is ICD Software. Whereas a hospital purchased one program that could be downloaded to multiple computers (or server accessed), many ICD companies have now moved to cloud-based subscription services where the hospital pays a "per user" license. This specific example would be allowable under "Payment Bundling, A: ICD-10 Software."

Allowable Investments Search Tool

Investment Status

Investment Categories

HCAHPS Surveys

Patient Safety (Training)

Subscriptions