1

Connected Care for Rural Colorado: An OeHI Innovation Grant Overview

The Office of eHealth Innovation is excited to announce a new rolling grant opportunity specifically for rural health care providers. Rural organizations providing health services can use the funding to harmonize data-sharing capabilities, increase health information sharing, and advance health information exchange through funding, analytics, and tools to help support immunization registries, care coordination, and quality measurements in their communities. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until October 15th or until all funds have been expended, whichever comes first. 

 

Eligible organizations:

  • Rural Governmental Agencies or Intergovernmental Agencies primarily providing health or health-related services, including but not limited to Emergency Medical Services, Fire Departments, Local Public Health Agencies, and Search & Rescue.
  • Organizations that meet the Health Resources & Services Administration definition of rural: 
    • Non-metropolitan counties
    • Outlying metropolitan counties with no population from an urban area of 50,000 or more people
    • Census tracts with Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes 4-10 in metropolitan counties
    • Census tracts of at least 400 square miles in area with population density of 35 or fewer people per square mile with RUCA codes 2-3 in metropolitan counties
    • Census tracts with Road Ruggedness Scale (RRS) 5 and RUCA codes 2-3 that are at least 20 square miles in area in metropolitan counties
    • To see if your organization meets the rural definition, type your address into the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer

 

Funding Details:

  • Maximum Award Amount: Up to $1 million, subject to fund availability.
  • Target Number of Awardees: OeHI anticipates awarding at least 25 organizations.

Program Timeline:

  • Application Period: September 15th through October 15th (30 days).
  • Estimated Award Decisions: By November 1st.
  • Estimated Contract Execution: By January 1st.
  • Grant Conclusion: June 15, 2026.

 

Permitted Uses of Funding:

Funding can be utilized to assess and support the IT needs of rural health service organizations to facilitate data harmonization, increase health information sharing, and advance health information exchange. Specific examples include:

  • Establishing access to a health information exchange (HIE).
  • Transitions to or upgrades of existing Electronic Health Records (EHR).
  • Digitization of paper records.
  • Improvements to interoperability to reduce manual effort and system fragmentation.
  • Technical assistance to implement or enhance health IT programs.
  • Adoption or implementation of artificial intelligence (AI).
  • Enhancements in cybersecurity measures.
  • Implementation of a mobile integrated health program.

 

Equipment Purchases: Equipment acquisition is permissible only when directly associated with the implementation of an innovative program. For instance, laptops or computers may be procured if needed to carry out an innovative program or connect to an HIE. This funding is not intended for the routine replacement of existing equipment unrelated to a new program.

 

Key Characteristics of Successful Proposals:

  • Scalability: Proposals should demonstrate the potential for expansion and broader application.
  • Resource Utilization: Proposals should leverage existing infrastructure, resources, and programs.
  • Community Impact: Proposals should directly support and improve health services for rural Coloradans.

  • Program Focus: Proposals should emphasize the establishment of new programs or health IT projects rather than covering ongoing operating expenses.

     

Please email ask_oehi@state.co.us with any questions or inquiries.