Rural Veterans Health Access Program

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Rural Veterans Health Access Program (RVHAP). The purpose of this program is to provide funding to states to work with providers and other partners to improve access to needed health care services and to improve the coordination of care for veterans living in rural areas. Award recipients can implement a variety of strategies to improve the capacity of critical access hospitals (CAHs) and other rural health care organizations to provide services that meet the needs of veterans living in rural areas. Award recipients can also assist providers in making connections to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system to coordinate care for rural veterans using community health care providers as well as the VA system.

Only states (current Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program award recipients in states with certified Critical Access Hospitals) are eligible to apply for funding under this notice, per the authorizing statute (Title XVIII, Section 1820(g)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-4(g)(6)). The Governor designates the eligible applicant from each state. HRSA will only accept one application from each state.

Mikael Redmond

(301) 443-2867