Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program Grants

Summary

SHIP grants provide funding to small rural hospitals for projects that improve quality reporting, develop shared savings/ACO infrastructure, or enhance financial operations. Eligible facilities must have 49 or fewer beds and be located in rural areas. The California State Office of Rural Health collects applications for HRSA funding under Social Security Act Section 1820(8)(3). Awards are based on federal appropriations, typically for one year, with renewal available upon satisfactory performance.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are small non-federal, short-term, general acute care hospitals with 49 or fewer beds situated in rural areas of California. Applications must be submitted to CalSORH, which then consolidates and submits to HRSA. Submission requires the hospital's Medicare Cost Report Worksheet S-3 (for PPS hospitals only).

Requirements Checklist

• Applicants must provide evidence of eligibility, including current bed count and rural location. Required documentation includes hospital Medicare Cost Report Worksheet S-3 for PPS hospitals. Applications must address proposed activities aligning with SHIP priorities such as quality improvement, financial operations enhancement, or ACO infrastructure development.

Required attachments

• Medicare Cost Report Worksheet S-3 (PPS hospitals only)