Eligible Health Care Providers (HCPs)

Applicants to the program must be rural and public or non-profit health care providers of the types listed below.

1. Post-secondary educational institution offering health care instruction, teaching hospital or medical school
2. Community health center or health center providing health care to migrants
3. Local health department or agency
4. Community mental health center
5. Not-for-profit hospital
6. Rural health clinic
7. Consortia of HCPs consisting of one or more of the above entities

For funding year 2004, the following are also eligible:

1. Dedicated emergency department of a rural for-profit hospital
2. Part-time eligible entity located in an otherwise ineligible facility.

If you are not one of these entities, please contact the Customer Service Support Center for assistance in determining eligibility.

Examples of Non-Eligible HCPs

Non-eligible HCPs include any for-profit institutions (except as noted above) and facilities located in urban areas. Examples of non-eligible facilities include:

• Private physician offices or clinics
• Nursing homes or other long-term care facilities (e.g. Assisted living facilities)
• Residential substance abuse treatment facilities
• Hospices
• Emergency medical service facilities (e.g. Rescue squads, Ambulance services)
• For-profit hospitals
• Home health agencies
• Blood banks

Defining Rural Areas

To determine if an HCP is located in a rural area, access the List of Rural Areas. The list is organized by state. If your county is not listed, your location is urban.

Special Eligibility for Internet Access

Not-for-profit HCPs located in a rural or urban area may qualify for Internet access assistance, if the organization must pay toll charges (long distance) in order to access an Internet Service Provider.

In this case, the HCP may qualify to receive 30 hours or $180.00 per month, which ever is less, to pay for the toll charges.

Please note that for funding year 2004, 25% of the monthly cost of Internet access may be discounted for all eligible HCP’s. Only telecommunications carriers who are common carriers are eligible to participate in the program.