Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program

(SHIP) Overview

Barry Backer

SHIP Grant Program Coordinator

September 28, 2009

SHIP OVERVIEW

• Program Purpose / Use of Funds

• Hospital Eligibility

• Funding Available

• Application Process

• Contracting

• Required Reporting

Program Purpose/Use of Funds• Funds Provided by HRSA for Small

Hospitals• Funding Provided to:

– Purchase computer software and hardware (focus on quality improvement, performance improvement and patient safety)

– Educate and train hospital staff on computer information systems

– Implementation of Prospective Payment System

Hospital Eligibility

• Small Hospitals = 49 Available Beds or less per Medicare Cost Report Line 12

• Hospital Must Be a Non-Federal, Short-Term, General Acute Care Facility

• All Critical Access Hospitals Eligible

GRANT PROCESS

• HRSA notifies Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (OPCRH) the SHIP grant application will be available

• OPCRH sends applications to eligible hospitals (<50 beds)

• OPCRH applies for SHIP funding when it becomes available from HRSA

STEP 1 - HOSPITAL APPLICATION PROCESS

• OPCRH sends applications to eligible hospitals (<50 beds)

• Interested hospitals complete, sign and return application by requested date

Then We Wait

And Wait Some More

NOTICE OF AWARD

• OPCRH receives a Notice of Grant Award (NGA) from HRSA

• OPCRH sends applicants a Scope of Work and a contract for signature

STEP 2 - CONTRACTING

• Upon receipt of the signed contracts, OPCRH knows how many hospitals will participate and sets up the budget

• OPCRH will be able to reimburse each applicant, up to the contract amount, for expenses that are covered by the grant.

Funding Available for FFY 10

• 45 Small Rural Hospitals Approved

• Total Funding for Missouri’s SHIP Hospitals = $389,277

• OPCRH Retains <5 percent

• Each hospital will receive $8,650.60

STEP 3 - INVOICING

• At the end of the grant cycle, applicants submit a Vendor Request for Payment (VRP) form along with copies of invoices paid during this grant cycle. This form is available at: http://www.dhss.mo.gov/ApplicationsAnd Forms/index.htmloc

INVOICING – cont.Funds can be used to:– Purchase computer software and hardware

(such as applications that focus on quality improvement, performance improvement and patient safety)

– Educate and train hospital staff on computer information systems (such as using technology to improve patient outcomes)

– Implementation of Prospective Payment System (such as updating chargemasters or providing training in billing and coding)

INVOICING – cont.

• Billing Period needs to be provided (beginning date TO ending date)

• Date Signed needs to be the date of the last invoice or end of Billing Period

• Can be submitted anytime during the grant year after the services or goods have been purchased

STEP 4 - REQUIRED REPORTING

• Hospitals – Complete 2 Page Form Indicating Needs and

Uses of Funds by Category – Why Hospital Did or Did Not Pool Funds– Submit to OPCRH by *October 15, 2009*

• OPCRH– Synthesis of Hospital Reporting – Due to HRSA by November 30, 2009

FAQs

• Has the eligibility criteria changed in the ’09 SHIP Guidance?

• Can hospitals use funds to convert from a paper

record to a electronic medical record?

• Can a CAH use funds for a chargemasters review?

FAQs

• Can hospitals purchase computers to assist in their coding system to improve patient care?

• Can education in other formats be allowed, such as seminars and workshops, that focus on quality improvement, performance improvement, patient safety and/or patient outcomes?

QUESTIONS?

Contact Information

Barry BackerOffice of Primary Care and Rural Health

Mo. Department of Health and Senior Services920 Wildwood, P.O. Box 570

Jefferson City, Mo.  65102-0570573-751-6219

fax # 573-522-8146Barry.Backer@dhss.mo.gov