Grants for Rural Telehealth CHERYL HENSHAW V.P. GRANT SERVICES, FOCAL POINT, INC.
Learning Objectives Different Sources of Rural Telehealth Funding Where to Find Information on Grant Programs Best Practices to Obtain Funding for Telehealth Initiatives Single greatest funding program for rural telehealth equipment RUS DLT Grant
Sources for Rural Healthcare Funding
Federal Agencies with Telehealth Funding
Sources for Foundation Funding Top Maine Giving Foundations
Know What You re Looking For Health Reform Primary & Research Rural Health Tribal Health Health Innovation Specialty Care Disparities
It s rarely about the telehealth technologies. It s all about how those technologies address a need What are the problems you face? Quantify those problems Explain how the technologies and other line items in your budget address those problems Articulate general benefits Project specific outcomes Most importantly find a grant that s the right fit for you! Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved.
Searching for Grant Information Federal Register - http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/getfrtoc.action or http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/the-federal-register/email-signup.html Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov Federal and State agency funding forecasts Ed.gov Hrsa.gov Dol.gov Usda.gov Foundationcenter.org Grantswatch.com or Maine.grantswatch.com
Grant Seeking Best Practices
Avoid Common Gotcha s! 1. Make sure you have a SAM Registration (and make sure it s active) 2. Check that your Grants.gov Username and Password work! 3. Have you authorized your AOR? Will this person be available on the day the grant is submitted? 4. Start gathering required documents as soon as possible check grant guidelines to ensure you know exactly what s required! 5. Check to see if an evaluation is required; if so, engage an evaluator at the onset of your project!
Grant Tips & Tricks Avoid Square Peg Round Hole Find a grant that is a good fit for what you are trying to accomplish Contrived applications rarely fund Never assume -- If you aren t sure about what the grant will or won t prioritize, call the program officer!
Highlight your Problems, then fix them! Cry me a river Build me a dam! -- Don t be afraid to highlight problems -- Make sure you propose solutions
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is! Don t make assertions without the ability to back them up! Quantify, Quantify, Quantify If you engage an external writer, provide them with access to your data
Get Ahead of Match Requirements! Match is not Match is not Match Read Guidelines thoroughly! Leverage and Match can be the same or two different things! In Kind vs Cash Depends on the grant Think through upcoming expenditures & plan accordingly Start Looking for Matching Sources Early! Foundations Local Organizations Challenge Funds Spread requirement across partnerships
Grants Span the Gamut of Telehealth Rural Health RUS-DLT Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Corrections Advancing Wellness & Resilience in Education Health Professions HRSA - NEPQR Rural Health Network Offender Reentry Program HRSA - Nursing Workforce Diversity Grant Rural Healthcare Services Outreach Reentry - Adult Offenders with Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders Rural Network Allied Health Training Program Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved.
The #1 Federal Grant for Telehealth Equipment USDA RUS-DLT Grant Program When: Spring-ish posting of Guidelines Application Window: 45 60 Days (varies from year to year) Award Size: $50,000 - $500,000 Match: 15% Required; 31% - 101% based on Objective Scoring Eligibility: Almost any org delivering or sharing telehealth or distance learning services with rural sites (no sole proprietors; no federal orgs)
DLT Program Purpose Equalizing access to healthcare or educational resources & services The T in DLT (Telemedicine) has very broad connotations Healthcare services (primary & specialty) Clinical Healthcare Education Prevention and Wellness Mental Health & Substance Abuse School based health Even For-Profit healthcare (ex: sleep disorder clinics)
RUS-DLT Scoring (Objective Scoring) 1. Rurality Each site receiving services/benefits is given a score based on RUS definition of rurality rurality 45 Points to sites located in populations of 5000 or less 30 Points to sites located in populations of 5001 10,000 15 Points to sites located in populations of 10,001 20,000 2. Poverty measured by the NSLP of each participating K-12 school, or the school district serving the geography of each site 3. Leverage your ability to provide matching funds. 15% required to apply. The more you match, the more points you receive. (Tip: sum of #1, #2, #4 will help you determine the Leverage Points needed) 4. Tribal Participation 15 Points for the inclusion of a tribal site
DLT Subjective Scoring 1. Needs/Benefits Up to 45 Points Demonstrate your Needs Quantify those Needs and Compare to Others Describe how your project will address these Needs Project General Benefits and Specific Outcomes Demonstrate Community Involvement and Support 2. Innovation Up to 15 Points 3. Cost Effectiveness Up to 35 Points Demonstrate a thorough review of technology options Document your technology decisions Best Fit vs Best Price
DLT Minefields o This grant has a million moving parts you must be consistent! Check and then Double Check! o Don t apply logic -- just follow the rules to the letter o Start EARLY before the guidelines come out you should Cement your partnerships Run and Confirm demographic data Identify and solidify match Request letters of support Review technology options and DOCUMENT discussions, attendance at tradeshows, request vendor demonstrations. More is more!
The Good News This grant is very winnable if you have a secret decoder ring! And if not there are telehealth vendors who have years of experience with this grant, who are happy to provide assistance at NO CHARGE TO YOUR ORGANIZATION
Questions?
Cheryl Henshaw Vice President -- Grant Services Focal Point, Inc (845) 821-6379 chenshaw@focalp.com