HRSA: $100K grants will support Beacon health centers

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will award $9 million in fiscal year 2011, providing one-time supplemental funding of up to $100,000 to support health centers located in Beacon Communities, stated Carlene Randolph, branch chief of health IT at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ HRSA stated during a conference call June 30.

The funding will enable health centers to participate in community-wide healthcare improvement initiatives that include a strong IT component and will help the health centers achieve their quality improvement goals, according to HRSA.

The grants are to be used between mid-September 2011 and mid-September 2012. The recipient health centers are expected to use the supplemental funds to collaborate with Beacon Community Program grantees and improve their individual health center’s capacity to share data and information within the Beacon Community.

Eligible applicants are existing health center program grantees operating at least one site within a Beacon Community program service area. Funding requests will be completed only in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks.

Applicants must include a program narrative of three to five pages detailing performance improvement goals and sustainability approach, a budget including a budget narrative with line-item justification, and a letter of support from the Beacon Community in the health center’s area.

The deadline to apply is July 29 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

The call was hosted by the National eHealth Collaboarative.