Questions and Answers (Q&As) on the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Request for Applications
Last week, the Department of Health (DOH) posted 43 pages of Questions and Answers (Q&As) on the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Request for Applications (RFA). As we have reported, this funding opportunity was established in this year’s budget.
LeadingAge NY submitted numerous questions on this RFA. A brief summary of the 409 Q&As is below:
- LeadingAge NY had requested an application submission extension to support a diverse pool of applicants and proposals. DOH does not currently plan to extend the due date.
- We asked about funding for Health Information Technology and telehealth, advancing funds, funding for demand studies, and an inability to show three years of financial stability in home care.
- Question on capital versus non-capital priorities – see #22 – “Funds available under this RFA are to provide grants to health care providers that primarily support capital projects. To the extent that funds are available to make awards for non-capital projects or purposes, such awards will be made in accordance with overall project rank. However, once funds for non-capital purposes are exhausted, awards will only be made for projects that are eligible for bond financing, regardless of whether such bondable projects are ranked in the same to a lower tier than non-bondable projects.”
- Question on Community Engagement and Needs Assessment – see #32 – “It is up to the applicant to determine how best to engage the community they serve. Community engagement should include, however, evidence that the Applicant has solicited input from community stakeholders who will be impacted by the Project.”
- Question on Community-based providers – see #41 – “Yes, it is possible that more than $30 million could be awarded to community-based providers. After $30 million of awards to community-based health care providers are made, awards will be made to all Eligible Applicants (including community-based providers), until the available amount of funds pursuant to the RFA are exhausted. Awards will be made first to applications ranked as "Good", then "Acceptable", then "Poor".”
- Question on Definition of Essential Health Care – see #47 – “Service needs vary from community to community based on population demographics, health status indicators and the insurance status of the community. Each applicant's community needs assessment should assess these factors, among others as indicated, to determine the range and amount of services needed to provide quality, comprehensive and integrated health care services to the communities it serves. Where there are gaps in services, the applicant should address these gaps in order to strengthen and protect access to care.”
- Seven pages of questions on who is an Eligible Applicant – see #49 through #108. The questions cover home care, nursing homes, ACOs, housing, CCRCs, primary care, PACE, IPAs, providers who received VAP funding, CDPAS/FIS, and numerous other potential applicants.
- Seven pages on Eligible Expenses – see #109 though #190.
- Five pages on Eligible Projects – see #191 through #237. Questions range from covering health information technology, restructuring debt, mergers and restructuring activities, conversion of resident unit to a unit of particular conditions (e.g. dementia), telehealth set-up, and others.
- Three pages on Financial Projections, Financial Statements, Financial Status, and Financial Sustainability Activities – see #247 through #270.
- Three pages on the Number of Applications – see #292 through #305.
- Several questions on “the Plan” as mentioned on page 3 of the RFA – see #319 through #323.
- Several questions on Previously Submitted Projects – see #326 through #338.
- Please note questions #339 through #346 on Priority Consideration. "The strength of an application and the likelihood that it will be evaluated positively is largely dependent on the overall approach taken by the applicant to improve their long-term financial sustainability and protect and strengthen continued access to health care services in the community.”
- Five pages on Technical Questions – see #354 through #407.
Please see our previous Intelligence articles on the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program Request for Application. The applications are due by Friday, Sept. 16th.
We will keep members posted as additional information becomes available.
Contact: Cheryl Udell, cudell@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871