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.
Costs or fees associated with a physician-waiver to prescribe and dispense Buprenorphine do not qualify as a SHIP allowable investment.
Providers may apply for a waiver with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Become a Buprenorphine Waivered Practitioner since this has an opioid component. This process is free of charge; therefore, SHIP funds should be applied to other activities.
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.
Any kind of emergency alert systems fall under the category of telecommunication systems and are thus NOT an allowable use of SHIP funds.
Surveys completed for medical clinics, ambulatory services, emergency room, specialty clinics, home health, and other outpatient services are NOT an allowable use of SHIP funds. This includes OAS-CAHPS and CG CAHPS.
Electronic health record (EHR) costs supportive of COVID-19 testing and mitigation.