§15902 Demonstration Health Projects

Summary

A regional Commission may give money to plan, build, equip, and run pilot health, nutrition, and child care projects that help poor or distressed areas. Eligible recipients include regional development entities, colleges, hospitals, and critical access hospitals. Planning grants can pay for planning work and may be mixed with other federal funds; the Commission’s contribution must follow the limits in section 15501(d). Construction and equipment grants can pay for building costs, buying certain private facilities (if they are nonprofit or if buying a previously for‑profit place is needed so services continue), and buying initial equipment. Those grants must meet approval rules in section 15503 and must not conflict with other health‑facility laws. Money from this program can be combined with other federal grants, and federal help for component facilities can be raised up to 90 percent of their cost. Operation grants can pay day‑to‑day running costs and start‑up costs like hiring and training staff. Operation grants go only to publicly owned facilities, nonprofits, tax‑exempt hospitals, or private hospitals that provide a set amount of uncompensated care and apply with a state, local government, or tribe. Operation funds can also be combined with certain Social Security Act programs, with the Commission’s contribution following section 15501(d). If a Commission gives these grants, it must set regional priorities that focus on addiction treatment and recovery supports, healthcare worker shortages, and better access to screening and diagnosis for chronic conditions.