Rebecca Mankin on Avoiding Rural Health Funding Application Traps

Takeaways

• Many rural healthcare organizations mistakenly assume outreach and marketing activities are not allowable uses of transformation funding when they often can be tied directly to program goals and outcomes.
• Successful grant applications connect every funded activity to measurable improvements in patient access, engagement, or health outcomes.
• Compliance requirements and funding oversight continue to evolve, making grant management expertise more important than ever.
• Telehealth remains one of the most impactful ways rural providers can expand access to specialty care without requiring patients to travel long distances.
• Cybersecurity investments are increasingly becoming a critical and appropriate use of healthcare transformation funding.
• Strong applications begin long before submission through community engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and thoughtful planning.
• The most successful proposals align organizational goals with documented state priorities and community health needs.
• Funding agencies want to see sustainable results that continue after grant dollars are exhausted.