Flex Direct-to-Hospital Grants

The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health (WORH) has been awarded the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex) Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This funding provides support to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the areas of quality improvement, financial improvement, and population health.

This year, we have received a continuation of funding to offer CAHs the opportunity to implement innovative projects in the following areas:

WORH will award funding up to $40,000 ($20,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years) for a project that addresses HCAHPS improvements and engagement in a Critical Access Hospital. The HCAHPS Improvement and Engagement awards can be used in 2 different ways: 

Improvement - This grant can be used for activities or interventions improvement in one or more HCAHPS measures.

Engagement – This grant can be used to innovate on increasing HCAHPS engagement in order to reach CMS star rating eligibility. If hospital volume is too low, this funding can be used to explore alternatives to the CMS rating system, such as NRRS.

Transportation Barriers to Health Care Access Grant

WORH is offering up to $10,000 to a Critical Access Hospital for a planning project to identify transportation barriers to health care and create a sustainable plan to address them. Projects should take a comprehensive approach to challenges such as limited transportation options, long travel distances, and related costs that can lead to poor health outcomes.

Behavioral Health Community Impact Grant

WORH will award up to $10,000 to a Critical Access Hospital to plan for addressing behavioral health challenges in their community, such as access barriers, stigma, and substance abuse. Hospitals that complete this planning process may qualify for two additional years of funding to implement their strategies.

Application Process

Critical Access Hospitals are invited to apply to one or more Flex Direct-to-Hospital Grants by Friday, October 24, 2025. A separate application is required for each grant. Visit our website to learn more about each grant and for instructions to apply.

For questions regarding the HCAHPS Improvement and Engagement Grant, please contact Samantha Peck.

For questions regarding the Transportation Barriers to Health Care Access Grant or Behavioral Health Community Impact Grant, please contact Kevin Jacobson.

Sincerely, 

Samantha Peck

Rural Hospitals and Clinics Program Manager 

Wisconsin Office of Rural Health

608-261-1891

Kevin Jacobson

Program Manager

Wisconsin Office of Rural Health

608-261-1888