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 December 2025

Training concerning an approved SHIP category/sub-category is allowable. This includes costs associated with hardware, software, trainer (SME), and supplies (such as training manuals).

Training should not include tests, testing, certification, accreditation, credentialing, or any associated costs. Some training will conclude with a knowledge test for "training completion." This is allowable so long as it is not for certification, accreditation, or credentialing.

Conference fees need to be pre-approved by your FORHP Project Officer. Please send the request with a copy (or link) of the conference agenda to your PO and SHIP-TA.

Examples of allowable training expenses include but are not limited to:

Provider-Based Clinic Quality Measure Training	CPOE Implementation Training	Alternative Payment Model Training
Quality Payment Program Training	Disease Registry Training	Population Health Training
Social Determinants of Health Screening Training	Systems Performance Training in Support of ACO or Shared Savings Initiatives	Mobile Health and Telehealth Software Training
Community Paramedicine Hardware and Software	Health Information Technology Training for VBP and ACO	ICD-10/11 Software and Training
S-10 Cost Report Training	Price Transparency Training	340B Drug Pricing program Training
Billing and Coding Training	Strategic Planning Development and Implementation	Mid-Level Manager Training
Value Based Care	HIT training associated with cybersecurity, hospital pricing, transparency	Training related to Telepharmacy Machines that can also dispense pre-packaged medication (automated medication dispensing systems)
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS)	Six Sigma and Lean	Plan-Do-Study-Act
Antibiotic Stewardship

Supplies associated with training(s) are allowable. Such supplies may include, but are not limited to, staff-use training whiteboards, training manuals, training books, training modules, and other necessary-to-the-efficiency supplies.

Note: Training for direct-patient care is unallowable. Examples of unallowable training would be CPR training, wound care, medical treatments, and training on functional medical equipment. It is important to note that medical or direct-patient care training that benefits a SHIP category (such as patient safety) is still unallowable. Supplies that only have use in training such as a training crash cart, silicone simulators, or mannequins/manikins are allowable.

Updated May 2022

Unused SHIP funds cannot be transferred to another participating hospital.

Voice recognition system for dictation to support increased quality, efficiency, and/or coding is an allowable use of SHIP funds.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided financial support for this Information Services to Rural Hospital Flexibility Project. The award provided 100% of total costs and totaled $1,100,000. The contents are those of the author. They may not reflect the policies of HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

As a technical assistance provider to rural health care organizations, the National Rural Health Resource Center provides access to a wide range of resources on relevant topics. Inclusion on the National Rural Health Resource Center’s webpage or presentations does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, the contents by the National Rural Health Resource Center or the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Allowable Investments Search Tool

Investment Status

Investment Categories

Training (Hardware/Software/Services)

Transferring Unused SHIP Funds to Another Participating Hospital

Voice Recognition System for Dictation