Allowable Investments Search Tool
In general, SHIP allowable investments include activities to assist small rural hospitals with their quality improvement efforts and with their adaptation to changing payment systems through investments in hardware, software and related trainings. This includes aiding with value and quality improvement.
Unallowable investments include, but are not limited to, travel costs, hospital services, hospital staff salaries, or general supplies. Hospitals should contact their State Office of Rural Health (SORH) with questions regarding the appropriateness or fit of a certain activity or hardware/software purchase. For additional clarifications, refer to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
This tool classifies a number of example investment activities as Allowable, Unallowable, or PO Pre-Approval. This is not a comprehensive list. It is only intended to provide examples of allowable SHIP activities.
Fetal monitoring machines or Novii monitors do not qualify as a SHIP allowable investment.
Neither piece of equipment fits under the ACO activity Mobile Health for Telehealth or Telemedicine as both are considered telecommunications, not telehealth or telemedicine. Although both pieces of equipment would increase patient safety under Value-Based Purchasing, patient safety activities are related to patient safety training.
The purchase of patient lift equipment does not qualify as a SHIP allowable investment.
Hand sinks and hand wash stations, equipment, or installation of sinks do not qualify as a SHIP allowable investment.
These items are part of a hospital’s operational costs and are not clearly linked with the purpose and intent of the SHIP Program.
Supplies and equipment used by emergency medical services (EMS) staff or EMS volunteers such as a stethoscope, watch, blood pressure cuff, and pulse oximeter do not qualify as SHIP allowable investment.
If the hospital and/or hospital-owned ambulance unit has a formal community paramedics program (CPP), hardware/software can be purchased to support the CPP to reduce EMS and emergency department misuse and readmissions. However, the use of SHIP funding for general EMS equipment is not allowable.
iPads, tablets, and other technology/hardware investments are not allowable for patient purposes.
iPads, tablets, and other technology/hardware investments may be allowable if they will be used by staff to support efficiencies.
Stethoscopes that are manual, Bluetooth enabled, or telehealth purposed are not an allowable use of SHIP funds.
Medical ventilation hoods that provide for the dissipation of fumes, gases, smoke, or other harmful materials from a designated area are not an allowable use of SHIP funds.
Addition of automated doors, sinks, toilets, soap dispensers, etc. for the purpose of COVID-19 mitigation.
Laboratory supplies and equipment for COVID-19 testing.
Portable equipment (such as a portable x-ray machine) that is used to prevent patients from being moved throughout a facility and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Sanitation and cleaning equipment (including disinfectant robots) to be used to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Also includes ultraviolet sanitation devices.
Upgrading or expanding for telemetry equipment as part of a larger COVID-19 mitigation strategy.
Costs associated with purchasing, maintaining, or operating a GlideScope™ or other similar equipment which allows for video laryngoscope (considered direct patient care).
Costs associated with the purchase, maintenance, or usage of communication equipment including 2-way radios, electronic messaging boards for COVID-19 testing and mitigation, and video streaming equipment.
Expenses incurred by hospital staff to travel to meetings or training such as mileage, food, per diem, lodging, and airfare do not qualify as a SHIP allowable investment.
Travel and lodging fees for contractors to get to a SHIP training can be covered. The hospital or network should request an invoice with all related training fees (including time, travel, and lodging) bundled as one single deliverable.
NOTE: SHIP Guidance doesn't approve travel for hospitals and state offices.
Costs associated with hiring, retaining, or relocating travel nurses or travel nurse services.
Costs associated with the purchase, maintenance, or operation of any hospital vehicle.
Any training to support coding and reimbursement, documentation, or documentation improvements that result in increased coding compliance are allowable.
A 340B Drug Pricing Program training intended to increase efficiency or quality improvement in support of Prospective Bundling and Prospective Payment Systems initiatives is an allowable investment.
Costs associated with the permanent installation of internet hardware are not an allowable use of SHIP funds.
Alterations and renovations that do not qualify as construction to create isolation areas for potential COVID-19 patients
Alterations and renovations that do not qualify as construction to update surfaces to more sanitary materials to mitigate COVID-19
Alterations and renovations that do not qualify as construction to update laboratories or other key spaces for safer and more efficient COVID-19 testing.
Creating negative pressure spaces within common spaces (such as waiting rooms and bathrooms), or in rooms to treat COVID-19 positive patients.
Purchasing and installing HVAC and associated expenses to improve COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
Purchasing and installing ionized filtration systems for HVAC units to improve COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
Construction costs, including, but are not necessarily limited to permanent building additions, new permanent buildings, permanent building expansions, modular buildings (and installations), increasing the footprint of the facility, significant new ground disturbance, and projects with a total cost of $500,000 or more.
Library fees and services that are used strictly for training access or material and not ongoing operational access can be an allowable use of SHIP funds but requires PO approval.
Costs associated with purchasing, maintaining, upgrading beds/bedding, or other similar equipment for the benefit of COVID-19 mitigation and separation of patients that are not considered direct patient care (including percussion beds).