Appalachian Region Healthcare Support Program

The Appalachian Region Healthcare Support Program is a forecasted federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. The opportunity number is HRSA-27-053, and the Assistance Listing is 93.619, Rural Health Limited Geographic Areas: Delta, Appalachian Region, and Northern Border Region. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and will use a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. Health is the identified category of funding activity. The forecast was issued on August 24, 2026, and the program is expected to make one award. The program is intended to provide technical assistance to rural healthcare organizations located in rural counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Its purpose is to help these organizations plan and implement healthcare service improvements. The stated goal is to strengthen healthcare delivery in rural areas of the Appalachian Region by improving the financial and operational performance of rural healthcare organizations as well as the quality of care they provide. Organizations that may be served through the program include critical access hospitals, small rural hospitals, rural health clinics, tribal healthcare facilities, and other healthcare organizations meeting the geographic requirements. Estimated total program funding is $2,500,000, with an award ceiling of $2,500,000 and one expected award. The source reports an award floor of zero, which does not establish a positive minimum award amount. No cost sharing or matching requirement applies. Because this opportunity is currently only a forecast, the supplied information does not provide additional spending restrictions, indirect cost limitations, subaward limitations, or a detailed period of performance. The available description specifically identifies technical assistance for planning and implementing healthcare service improvements as the program's funding scope. Eligible applicant types include Native American tribal organizations, small businesses, private institutions of higher education, city or township governments, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, special district governments, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, county governments, state governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and other applicants subject to additional eligibility clarification. Successful applications must target rural healthcare organizations located in the Appalachian region. For this opportunity, a rural healthcare organization is defined as a healthcare organization located in a rural county in the Appalachian region. The opportunity is not yet open for applications. The estimated posting date is January 26, 2027, and the estimated application due date is March 27, 2027. Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the application due date. The forecast does not identify a letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, or other pre-application gating requirement. It also does not provide application questions, required uploads, named application forms, evaluation criteria, or other detailed submission mechanics beyond electronic submission. These details may become available when the full opportunity is posted. The estimated award date is September 1, 2027, and the estimated project start date is September 30, 2027. The listed fiscal year is 2027, and the archive date is June 30, 2027. No language in the supplied forecast states that this opportunity recurs annually, biennially, quarterly, or on another regular schedule, so recurrence cannot be established. The named grantor contact is Suzanne Eslyn at 301-443-0178 and seslyn@hrsa.gov. Applicants should rely on the subsequently posted funding notice for application components, evaluation criteria, detailed allowable or restricted costs, and any additional requirements not included in this forecast.

Ensure the proposed effort targets rural healthcare organizations located in rural counties of the Appalachian region and aligns technical assistance with planning and implementing healthcare service improvements. Clearly connect the work to stronger financial performance, operational performance, and quality of care.