Rural Health

The State Office of Rural Health, established in 1989, helps rural communities in supporting sustainable health care delivery systems and ensuring access to services in rural Kansas by:

– Collecting and disseminating health-related information to rural providers and communities
– Linking rural communities to federal, state, and non-governmental programs that support rural health
– Supporting rural health policy development through collaboration
– Building strong local, state, and federal partnerships to serve rural Kansas
– Encouraging the recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural areas

To contact the Office of Rural Health: Email or call 785-296-1200

+/-  Rural Health News and Information
Click here to go to KRHIS System.The State Office of Rural Health runs the Kansas Rural Health Information Service (KRHIS). KRHIS provides up-to-the-minute updates on news in the Bureau of Community Health Systems and on rural health issues affecting Kansas and the nation. Registration is free and open to anyone.

Click here to open Rural Assistance Center Web PageThe Rural Assistance Center (RAC) is a rural health and human services "information portal" to help rural communities and other rural stakeholders access the full range of available programs, funding, and research that can enable them to provide quality health and human services to rural residents. All services are provided free of charge.

+/-  Programs Supporting Rural Hospitals and Health Systems

The State Office of Rural Health administers the Small Hospital Improvement Grant and the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility federally-funded programs. These programs are met to encourage the building of sustainable, cooperative systems of care in rural areas.

Small Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP) |

Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (FLEX) Program

+/-  Grants and Loan Programs for Rural Health Providers and Communities

Tools for Writing Rural Health Grants |
 
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Community Grants
The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy administers several community grant programs to increase access to care in rural communities.  The State Office of Rural Health is able to provide technical assistance with these grant applications.

Kansas Department of Commerce Community Tax Credit Program
The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Community Service Program (CSP) awards selected nonprofit organizations to offer Kansas tax credits for contributions to approved projects. Projects eligible for tax credit awards include community service, crime prevention and health care.

Universal Service Fund Rural Health Care Program
Universal Service Administrative Company administers the Universal Service Fund (USF) Rural Health Care Program to provide reduced rates to rural health care providers (HCPs) for telecommunications services and Internet access charges related to the use of telemedicine and telehealth. Eligible providers must be a public or not-for-profit organization located in a rural area.

United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Grants and Loans
The US Department of Agriculture offers several community facilities loan and grant programs for essential community facilities, such as municipal buildings, day care centers, and health and safety facilities, in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population.  Eligible applicants are public bodies (cities, townships, counties, or special districts), Indian Tribes, cooperatives, or other non-profit organizations.

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Healthcare Programs
The Office of Healthcare Programs administers Federal Hospital Administration’s healthcare programs – the Section 232 Mortgage Insurance for Residential Care Facilities program and the Section 242 Mortgage Insurance for Hospitals program. Both programs enable the affordable financing and refinancing of healthcare facility projects nationwide.