New Information Available on Transformation Grants

The Department of Health (DOH) posted new materials related to the Statewide Transformation Grant Request for Applications (RFA) for Health Information Technology (IT)/Cybersecurity/Telehealth this week. The documents, released on Feb. 13^th, are an addendum to the RFA (available here) and a “question and answer document” (available here). Members are reminded that applications for the Health IT/Cybersecurity/Telehealth grants are due March 13^th. Questions regarding the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program (SHCFTP) IV RFA are due Feb. 20^th.

More information about this RFA and the two additional Transformation Grants is available in a LeadingAge NY members-only webinar provided by Anna Rizzo, Managing Director of Senior Living and Long Term Care, and Glenna Harris, Senior Managing Consultant at FORVIS. Slides from the webinar are available here, and a recording is available here, with a LeadingAge NY member login. A description of the three Transformation Grant RFAs, along with deadlines for submission, is here. 

The following are some highlights of the documents posted by DOH this week pertaining to the Health IT/Cybersecurity/Telehealth RFA. Members are encouraged to read these documents in their entirety.

Addendum: 

The addendum to the RFA:

• clarifies that applicants should submit only one application under the Health IT/Cybersecurity/Telehealth RFA focused on one of the four categories of that RFA.
• imposes a requirement that applicants be not-for-profit organizations. However, LeadingAge NY understands that DOH intends to issue a clarification that government-sponsored organizations are eligible to apply.
• requires an organization submitting an application that benefits multiple organizations to provide letters of support from each of these organizations and upload them as one PDF file to the Grants Gateway.
• removes a notation regarding the relative scoring weights of the various sections of the RFA.

Noteworthy Questions and Answers:

The "question and answer" document includes answers to almost 300 questions. The following are some questions and answers of particular interest to LeadingAge NY members:

• If our project fits primarily in Health Management Tools, but part of it could also fit under the Telehealth category, which category should I choose when I submit this proposal?
  • In cases where a project aligns with more than one of the four categories described in Section I, the Applicant should use its discretion to select the single most appropriate of the four categories.
• I have been reading the RFA over for this grant, and I cannot find a minimum or maximum grant request information. Is this a first come first serve basis? Or is there any guidance on min/max requests?
  • Applications are not capped to a maximum award amount but should be reflective of the project proposed. Through the Evaluation Criteria and the Reserved Rights in the RFA the Department will factor in the Applicant's need for funds, efficient and resourceful plan for funds, and the impact funds would have on the statewide health system. There is no minimum amount. This is not a first come first serve application.
• We are seeking confirmation that the role of the IPA in this situation supports eligibility for funding.
  • The RFA has been amended. An IPA would be an eligible Applicant. See Addendum #1.
• We are seeking clarification on a) amount of total funding available; b) amount of funding to be directed towards capital; c) additional clarification of non-capital allowable, eligible expenses in support of meeting the goals of Health Management Tools.
  • The total amount of funding awarded will depend on a number of factors including but not limited to the quality of applications and their potential improvement to the health care system, not to exceed $650 million. Applications are not capped to a maximum award amount but should be reflective of the project proposed. Through the Evaluation Criteria and the Reserved Rights in the RFA, the Department will factor in the Applicant's need for funds, efficient and resourceful plan for funds, and the impact funds would have on the statewide health system. $400 million of the available funding is capital. $250 million of the available funding is non-capital.
•  Is there a grant specific to upgrading of software , whereby we can do all our financials, budgeting and such on the cloud and create dashboards? Would a grant include hiring an IT specialist who can help with the implementation?
  • Upgrading software could be eligible contingent on the requested expenses meeting all other RFA requirements. Supplementing staff is a disallowed expense; however IT consulting services would be an eligible expense contingent on the requested expenses meeting all other RFA requirements.
• Is there a limit to the extent to which these projects can overlap? For example, if the primary project is the EHR, can an applicant also include all directly related cybersecurity activities, even if the funding ends of being 50% EHR and 50% cybersecurity?
  • There is no limit. In cases where a project aligns with more than one of the four categories described in Section I, the Applicant should use its discretion to select the single most appropriate of the four categories.
• Can you further clarify/define community-based organizations that are eligible to apply? Are the community-based programs funded by the listed entities required to be licensed to be eligible?
  • Community based organizations are not required to be licensed to be eligible. Community based organizations are eligible to apply if the Applicant is a not-for-profit organization and both the Applicant and proposed project meet all other RFA requirements.
• If we have more than one eligible program as the beneficiary for our project, how should we present this in our application?
  • You may submit an application from one lead Applicant benefitting multiple other organizations. The lead Applicant would answer on their organization only. The lead Applicant should upload letters of support from each partnering organization to the Grantee Document folder in the Grants Gateway. The Department reserves the right to require additional information from other organizations at a later time. See Addendum #1.
• Can you please tell me if PACE organizations (Program for all-inclusive care for the Elderly) PACE organizations may also apply?
  • PACE organizations are eligible to apply if the Applicant is a not-for-profit organization and both the Applicant and proposed project meet all other RFA requirements. Applicants should use their discretion to select the most applicable provider organization type.
• May a group of facilities apply for funding for a single project (e.g. a telehealth hub and spoke project; or a group purchase of a health data management tool, a cybersecurity tool, or a remote patient management tool)? How should such an application be structured?
  • You may submit an application from one lead Applicant benefitting multiple other organizations. The lead Applicant should either be the parent organization or the entity that will own the IT asset.
• If a provider is planning a project that will involve both capital improvements in the physical plan and technology investments, should it submit separate applications under SHCFTP IV and SHCFTP IV/V (technology), or should it submit a combined application under SHCFTP IV only?
  • Eligible Applicants must apply separately to RFA# 20244 if the primary focus of the Eligible Project is not technological and telehealth advancement. Applications to RFA # 20244 can include expenditures in support of technological and telehealth advancement not to exceed 15 percent of the total funds requested for Health Care Facility Transformation Projects.
• Can one hospital apply on behalf of a group of independent hospitals to secure funding to develop a strategy and network model to collectively implement an integrated computer system to better support the healthcare needs of our community? If so, for purposes of the application, what documentation needs to be uploaded to demonstrate the commitment of the entities?
  • Yes. Letters of support from each organization should be included as an accompanying attachment in Grants Gateway by uploading to the Grantee document folder. Please see Addendum #1.
• If one hospital can apply on behalf of a group of independent hospitals to secure funding to develop a strategy and network model to collectively implement an integrated computer system to better support the healthcare needs of our community, does the lead agency answer all of the program specific questions for the lead agency only? Or do we include information from all of the independent hospitals participating in the project?
  • Yes, the lead agency would answer on their organization only. The Department reserves the right to require additional information from other organizations at a later time.
• I am emailing in relation to the application for the Grant with an opportunity ID DOH01-SHCFTT-2024. Can you please advise whether Assisted Living Residences (ALR) are able to apply for this grant?
  • Assisted Living Residences (ALR) are eligible to apply if the Applicant is a not-for-profit organization and both the Applicant and proposed project meet all other RFA requirements.

LeadingAge NY will notify members when additional information becomes available.

Contacts: Karen Lipson, klipson@leadingageny.org and Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org