Virginia Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant

Background
The Virginia Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant is issued by the Office of Health Equity, Division of Primary Care and Rural Health, Virginia Department of Health. The goal of this grant is to establish contracts with entities experienced in Population Health Improvement initiatives specifically targeted for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Provider-Based Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). This initiative aims to address food insecurity through 'Food Is Medicine' programs, integrating nutritional interventions into healthcare systems to improve health outcomes in rural communities.

Work Details
The selected applicant will develop and implement 'Food Is Medicine' initiatives tailored to the needs of rural communities. Key interventions include:

- Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs): Prepared meals designed for specific medical and dietary needs.
- Medically Tailored Groceries (MTGs): Grocery packages tailored to individual health requirements.
- Produce Prescription Programs: Vouchers or prescriptions for fresh produce to encourage consumption of fruits and vegetables.
- Nutrition Incentive Programs: Financial incentives for purchasing healthy foods.

The funding cannot be used for the purchase of food but must support activities that help CAHs and their communities establish these interventions.

Period of Performance
The initial period of grant funding is from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, with the potential for two renewal options.

Place of Performance
The contract will be performed in Virginia, specifically targeting Critical Access Hospitals and surrounding areas.