Grants and Loans

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In the final budget, the Donated Dental Services Program, the Health Careers Promotion Grant and the Migrant Health Grant were eliminated. The Summer Health Care Intern Program is not funded for fiscal year 2012-2013, but may be available in 2014.
Grants and Loans available from the Office of Rural Health & Primary Care
Due Date
April 23, 2012
Pre-applications October 7, 2011
Final applications January 13, 2012
September 30, 2011

April 1, 2011

See website for details

See website for details
Ongoing

Pre-applications December 16, 2011
Final applications March 16, 2012

November 28, 2011
September 19, 2011
March 30, 2012

 Other grants and loans available through the Minnesota Department of Health

Electronic Health Record Loan Program

The Minnesota Department of Health-Office of Rural Health and Primary Care administers an electronic health record (EHR) loan program to help finance the implementation or support of interoperable EHR systems. Loan funds are primarily intended for EHR software, hardware, training and support expenses.

Loans are six-year, no-interest with the first year’s repayment deferred. Eligible entities: federally qualified health centers; community clinics; nonprofit or local units of government hospitals; individual or small group physician practices that are primarily focused on primary care; nursing facilities and local public health departments.

Note: Priority will be given to the following applicants: critical access hospitals; federally qualified health centers; entities that serve uninsured, underinsured and medically underserved individuals (urban or rural); and individual or small group practices that are primarily focused on primary care. The commissioner has the authority to approve other providers of health or health care services when interoperable electronic health record capability would improve quality of care, patient safety or community health.

Estimated funds available: $1,000,000
Estimated number of approved loans: 4-8
Estimated award range: $50,000 - $250,000

Applications closed April 1, 2011 (PDF: 33KB/4pgs)
Estimated loan approval notification date: June 1, 2011

EHR Loan Program Guidance (PDF: 31KB/2pgs)
Statute (PDF:87KB/4pgs)

Contact for more information

Anne Schloegel
651-201-3850

Rural Pharmacy Planning and Transition Grant Program

Applications are not being accepted for this program, which was intended to preserve access to prescription medication and the skills of a pharmacist in rural areas.

Awardees 2006-2009 (PDF: 13KB/1pg)

Contact for more information

Doug Benson
651-201-3842

Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program

The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care coordinates a state application to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Rural Health Policy on behalf of Minnesota’s small rural hospitals. Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program funds can be used to:

  • Pay for costs related to implementation of prospective payment systems (PPS)
  • Pay for the costs related to delivery system changes as outlined in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) including:
    • Value-based purchasing (VBP)
    • Accountable care organizations (ACO)
    • Payment bundling.

The 2012 grant application is due March 30. Instructions (PDF: 53KB/4pgs) and fillable application (Word: 52KB/4pgs).

The 2011 Final Report form is available (Word: 53KB/2pgs). Email the completed form to Anne Schloegel. The form must include the chief executive officer’s (CEO) signature or designated. If you do not have an electronic signature, print a hard copy of the report, secure the CEO’s signature, scan and save as a PDF file and email to: Anne Schloegel@state.mn.us.

Contact for more information

Anne Schloegel
651-201-3850

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Community Clinic Grant Program

The Community Clinic Grant Program provides funding to plan, establish or operate services to improve the ongoing viability of Minnesota’s clinic-based safety net providers. Grants support clinical capacity to serve people with low incomes, reduce current or future uncompensated care burdens, or improve care delivery infrastructure.

The level of funding for the community clinic grant program will be approximately $561,000 for fiscal year 2012. An eligible community clinic means a nonprofit clinic, government entity, Indian tribal government or Indian health service unit; or a consortium of these entities. Applicants must provide or plan to provide clinical services and use a sliding fee scale or other procedure to determine eligibility for charity care or to ensure that no person will be denied services because of inability to pay. This funding is for one year: April 1, 2012-March 31, 2013.

Because of limited funding, applicants are required to submit pre-applications and only the strongest of these will be invited to submit a final application.

Community Clinic Grant Summary (PDF: 15KB/1pg)
Pre-applications October 7, 2011 (PDF: 120KB/8pgs or Word: 41KB/8pgs)
Final applications January 13, 2012 (PDF: 120KB/8pgs or Word: 41KB/8pgs)

Contact for more information

Deb Jahnke
651-201-3845

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Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant Program

The program helps small rural hospitals make needed facility and equipment improvements.

Pre-applications December 16, 2011 (Word: 4pgs/63KB or PDF: 4pgs/28KB).
Final applications March 16, 2012 (Word: 15pgs/189KB or PDF 15pgs/91KB).

Capital Improvement Needs of Minnesota's Small Rural Hospitals, January 2001 (PDF: 672K/37 pages)

Contact for more information

Doug Benson
651-201-3842

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Rural Hospital Flexibility Program

Minnesota Rural Flex Grant Program
This grant program, a component of Minnesota Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, is intended to preserve access to needed health services and encourage collaboration and integration of rural community health systems. Grants may be used to develop community, network or strategic plans for preserving or enhancing access to health services. Grants may also be used for implementation activities in the following categories by applicants with completed plans or needs assessments: network development, health system improvements (diversification, new services, workforce development efforts, etc.), strengthening and integrating the EMS system; and quality improvement. Eligible applicants are rural hospitals with 50 or fewer beds, rural hospitals eligible to convert to Critical Access Hospital licensure, Critical Access Hospitals, rural health networks and rural EMS organizations.

Applications were due November 28, 2011 Word (20 pgs/706KB) or PDF (20 pgs/87KB)

Contact for more information

Judy Bergh
651-201-3843

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Rural Hospital Planning and Transition Grant

The Office of Rural Health & Primary Care administers grants to help small rural hospitals preserve access or respond to changing conditions. Hospitals have used transition grants to prepare strategic plans, implement new uses for hospital space and develop community services. Approximately $300,000 is available each year and the maximum grant amount is $50,000.

Applications were due September 19, 2011 (PDF: 122KB/22pgs) or (Word: 215KB/22pgs).

Past awards:
2010 grantees (PDF: 10KB/1 page)
2009 grantees (PDF: 13KB/1 page)
2008 grantees (PDF: 9 KB/1 page)

Contact for more information

Doug Benson
651-201-3842

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Minnesota Primary Care Loan Fund

The Minnesota Primary Care Loan Fund offers loans to clinics, hospitals, networks and others for equipment, working capital, expansion, startup and other needs. The Office of Rural Health & Primary Care is a partner in the fund, which is administered by the Nonprofit Assistance Fund. More information is on the Nonprofits Assistance Fund Web site.

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Indian Health Grant

The Indian Health Grant Program helps eligible applicants establish, operate or subsidize clinic facilities and services to offer health services to American Indians who live off reservations. Nonprofit organizations, governmental and tribal entities are eligible to apply.

The amount of funding for the program is $174,000 per year. Grants are awarded for a two-year project period: January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013.

Applications were due September 30, 2011: PDF 126KB/15pgs or Word 160KB/15pgs.

The statutes regarding eligible applicants changed in 2003. Nonprofit organizations, governmental and tribal entities are now eligible to apply for funding.

Contact for more information

Deb Jahnke
651-201-3845

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Updated Wednesday, 29-Feb-2012 17:15:45 CST