The National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center) has been awarded a five-year, $4 million cooperative agreement by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to continue management of the Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project (RHPTP).
RHPTP helps small rural hospitals and rural health clinics nationwide gain a clearer understanding of value-based care — which rewards health care organizations for achieving better patient outcomes, not providing more services — and the strategies needed to effectively participate in an evolving health care system focused on value. The project’s overall goal is to help health care organizations strengthen their understanding of how quality, efficiency, patient experience and safety impact long-term sustainability and financial performance.
The award marks the second consecutive time The Center, RHPTP’s founding technical assistance provider, has been funded to administer the program.
Since its launch in 2020, RHPTP has assisted 24 hospitals and clinics.
“We are incredibly proud to continue our successful partnership with HRSA and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy on the Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project,” said Center CEO Sally Buck. “By guiding rural hospitals and clinics through the complexities of value-based care, we’re helping them secure their financial future while also enhancing the quality of care they provide to their communities. This vital support helps to strengthen rural health care delivery and ensure its long-term sustainability.”
Each year, between four and six health care organizations are selected to participate in the one-year long, cohort-based initiative.
Participants work closely with RHPTP staff and a team of national consultants to evaluate their existing financial, operational and quality improvement strategies, assess their readiness for value-based care, and develop action plans based on best practices. Participants also take part in an interactive learning collaborative and webinar series to deepen their understanding and support implementation.
Since its launch in 2020, RHPTP has assisted 24 hospitals and clinics.
The Center currently manages four other HRSA-funded programs: the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program, the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program, the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program, and the Technical Assistance and Services Center.
