Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-24-019
Applicant submission
Definitions
Applicant eligibility
Program requirements
Funding preference
Budget
Other
Applicant submission
1. How do I apply?
On the FY24 PCTE-PARB announcement page, select the blue tab labeled “PACKAGE” and scroll down to select “Preview” or “Apply.” If you select “Preview,” you can download the instructions as a PDF.
Definitions
2. How is “primary care” defined for this program?
Primary care is defined as family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, and combined general internal medicine with general pediatrics. See page 6 of the NOFO for more information.
3. How is “integrated behavioral health” defined for this program?
Integrated behavioral health centralizes care for medical conditions and related behavioral health factors. In this NOFO, integrated behavioral health must be within the rural primary care setting. See page 6 of the NOFO for more information.
4. How is a “rural clinical site” defined for this program?
A rural clinical site is a clinical rotation site located in an area considered rural by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, using the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer. Enter the address or state/county in the search criteria to determine if the clinical site is an eligible rural site.
5. How does HRSA define an academic year?
An academic year is generally defined as the annual period during which a student attends an educational institution. Typically, the academic year is August to June, although it may differ based on the educational institution.
Applicant eligibility
6. Are provisionally accredited programs eligible to apply?
Yes. However, we do require accreditation for the life of the grant and an update on the status of accreditation on an annual reporting basis.
7. We are a developing Physician Assistant program and are anticipating provisional accreditation by ARC-PA later in 2024. Could we still apply with the expectation that we will be accredited, or do we already need to have provisional or continued status?
You must have provisional or continued accreditation status per the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) by the application deadline on March 15, 2024.
8. Are Physician Assistant post-graduate or fellowship programs eligible for this grant opportunity?
No. PA post-graduate and fellowship programs are not eligible for the PCTE-PARB training program. Eligible applicants must be an academically affiliated PA training program accredited by the ARC-PA.
9. Would a health care organization or clinical rotation site be eligible to apply for this PCTE-PARB program?
No. You must be an academically affiliated PA training program accredited by the ARC-PA.
10. Do we have to be designated as a “rural” hospital to participate as a clinical rotation site?
Yes. The clinical rotation site must be at a rural clinic and services must involve integrating behavioral health with primary care. The clinical site must be rural as determined by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, using the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer.
11. Are grantees funded under HRSA-19-087 Primary Care Training and Enhancement-Physician Assistant (PCTE-PA) or HRSA-22-044 Primary Care Training and Enhancement- Physician Assistant Rural Training (PCTE-PAR) programs eligible for this funding opportunity?
Yes. Grantees funded under HRSA-19-087 and/or HRSA-22-044 are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity.
Program requirements
12. Is it allowable for a longitudinal clinical experience (of 3+ months) in a qualifying rural site to be composed of two or more sequenced rotations in primary care disciplines to meet the required 3-month minimum duration?
Yes. Longitudinal clinical rotations in a qualifying rural site may be composed of sequenced rotations in primary care disciplines if they meet the required 3-month minimum duration.
13. Do applicants need to identify the clinical training sites where students are going to train in their grant application?
Yes. The applicant must identify rural clinical training site(s) where the PA students will train in Attachment 9.
Funding preference
14. What academic years data are required to receive a High MUC Placement Rate funding preference?
To qualify for High MUC Placement Rate funding preference, an applicant must demonstrate that the percentage of graduates placed in practice settings serving MUC for Academic Year (AY) 2021-2022 and AY 2022-2023 is greater than or equal to 50 percent of all graduates. See pages 29-30 of the NOFO for more information.
Budget
15. When can student stipends be applied?
Stipends are provided only for the time that the student is training in a primary care rural rotation(s). Students must be matriculated and currently in your training program to receive this stipend.
16. Can stipends be paid to preceptors?
No. Stipends are not allowable for preceptors. Please refer to the preceptor support cost section on page 16 of the NOFO.
17. What do preceptor support costs cover for those preceptors who are not employed by the applicant organization?
Preceptor support costs may cover continuing education training and fees, conferences, and travel.
18. Can funds be used to purchase supplies or equipment for the clinical rotation site?
Yes. You can use funds to purchase supplies or equipment for the clinical rotation site to carry out only a specific HRSA-supported PCTE-PARB project or activities. Such purchases must not exceed the allowable total project or program costs.
19. Can funds be used to purchase property to support student housing?
No. You cannot use grant funds to buy property, or for construction. See page 7 of the NOFO for more information.
Other
20. Will a recording of the technical assistance webinar be available for review?
Yes. View the technical assistance webinar recording at the HRSA PCTE-PARB page.