Up to 85 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) will be provided with grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 from a new partnership between The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and Centene Corporation, a private payer. The goal of the provided funding, which is part of a broader initiative from Centene, is to increase the sustainability of telehealth solutions for FQHCs just starting programs or looking to build upon them. Note that the deadline is fast approaching, with applications due Friday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. EST.
Purpose
FQHCs can choose between two grant categories:
Category 1 focuses on health centers looking to rapidly launch or scale telehealth solutions that can be implemented in 30-60 days. Requests are limited to $25,000, and participants in this category should already have some previous experience with telehealth. Allocated funds should be used to purchase equipment, such as Remote Patient Monitoring devices with an accompanying portal. Or, this can include any equipment needed to help clinicians facilitate telehealth visits while in their homes. Around 60 awardees will be selected.
Category 2 is intended for those with more long-term goals (e.g. launching Care Management programs or delivering virtual specialty care). This award can also be for health systems looking to expand telehealth to underserved areas with provider shortages. Award amounts will range from $75,000 to $150,000 each and Centene will select up to 25 recipients.
FQHCs must be located in one of the following states: AZ, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, NE, NM, NV, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, WA, or WI
Components
Background and Overview
The first two pages of the application asks for general information about the health center, including contact information and patient population specifics. It will then ask to briefly describe what telehealth initiatives FQHCs plan to use the funding for if selected and the total amount of funds requested, accompanied by a period of time over which the health center wants to use the grant. Centene then asks for the FQHC to briefly describe its mission, history and telehealth goals, as well as any existing telehealth programs and/or accomplishments.
Craft Your Health Center’s Narrative
The Narrative Proposal is the longest section of the application and must be between three to five pages. The health center must provide detail as to what equipment will be purchased to support staff and what equipment will support patients. This section also requires an explanation of how telehealth solutions will be staffed, if they will be integrated into an electronic management system and how telehealth sustainability will be expanded after the grant ends. Health centers will also need to detail how they will effectively measure increased telehealth capacity and attach a budget proposal.For complex questions such as these, your health center may need a partner to help you reimagine care. If interested, meet with one of our Certintell team members to help you envision and layout a telehealth program that works for your clinic and patients. One program doesn’t fit all, so we’ll help you target areas of need to help you secure funding and maximize efficiency in your award use.
Evaluation
The Narrative Proposal is also the most important part of the application, as it is the only part that is scored on a system of points; the general background sections are only judged on completeness and compliance.
Higher scores will be awarded to health centers who can demonstrate potential for sustainability (in which having an established telehealth partner can be an asset); as well as those who have a significant impact on at-risk populations; community stakeholder engagement (Example: partnering with a community-based organization); or those who have already secured additional funding.
Applications will be due Friday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. EST.
