SLED Opportunity · IOWA · IOWA
AI Summary
Iowa seeks qualified applicants for cancer Hub and Spoke sites to expand rural access to chemotherapy and cancer care through coordinated networks, tele-oncology, and sustainable models under a CMS-funded five-year program.
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) # PHTHOCC26756 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified applicants to serve as cancer Hub and Spoke sites. The purpose of developing Hub and Spoke sites is to increase access to and availability of cancer treatment in Rural Iowa. Through the Healthy Hometowns Rural Health Transformation Program, Iowa is working toward innovative and transformative models of healthcare delivery to best serve rural Iowans. Hub and Spoke sites will work collaboratively to increase access to chemotherapy in Rural Iowa. The Hub and Spoke sites will also increase access to additional forms of cancer treatment, management, screening, and diagnostics at Spoke sites by developing and implementing networks that include: * Adding new chemotherapy lines of service at Spoke sites or the creation of additional capacity at existing Rural chemotherapy sites via additional infusion chairs, increased hours of operation, or other solutions that increase the number of patients receiving chemotherapy in Rural communities, * Coordinating care for patients between Hub and Spoke sites, resulting in treatment provided locally at the Spoke site whenever possible and appropriate visits to the Hub site coordinated to maximize appointment time and reduce the amount of travel needed for completion of the care plan, * Conducting remote consultation with medical personnel located at Hub sites, including tele-oncology services, * Developing virtual Tumor Boards that allow medical professionals at Spoke sites to work collaboratively with medical professionals at the Hub site to diagnose patients and develop treatment plans that include care at the Spoke whenever possible and at the Hub site when necessary, * Developing solutions for virtual visits and exchanging records and data between Hubs and Spokes. * Developing and executing referral agreements, telehealth agreements, and innovative payment models to support the long-term success of the Hub and Spoke network, * Expanding access to specialty services in a financially sustainable manner, * Streamlining or centralizing functions to create cost savings, * Improving the financial viability of Rural providers, * Preserving independence of Rural providers, * Keeping care local in Rural communities when possible and appropriate, * Developing models of sustainability for rural cancer providers, * Supporting long-term sustainability planning, including workforce development, tele-oncology integration, and alignment with Commission on Cancer (CoC) standards, and * Implementing transformational models of care that makes Iowa a nationwide leader for positive Rural health outcomes. Applicants for this RFP will be proposed Hub sites. Hub sites will indicate proposed subcontractors (three sites) to serve as Spoke sites. Spoke sites may include, but are not limited to, community hospitals, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, or independent oncology practices. Hubs may have more than three Spokes, but only three will be considered in the evaluation of this procurement and only three will be supported financially through these funds unless prior written approval is given by the Agency to financially support additional Spokes. Hub and Spoke sites are expected to work collaboratively on this application, but ultimately the proposed Hub site will be responsible for application submission and leading the work of successful networks. The Hub site must provide copies of legally executed agreements with their proposed Spoke sites to demonstrate their agreement to work on this project collaboratively. These agreements must show evidence that the budget submitted in this application has been mutually agreed upon by the Hub and the Spoke. Applicants will have the opportunity to apply for an approximate total five-year award of either $31,932,976 or $45,252,416. Applicants should follow the directions within this procurement carefully to apply for the amount of funds that most appropriately reflects the anticipated needs of their proposed Hub and Spoke network. In the event that the Applicant elects to apply for the higher dollar amount, the Applicant will be required to submit two work plans (one for both the lower and higher dollar amount) and demonstrate the greater impact that will result from the higher dollar amount project. The Agency reserves the right to award the lower dollar amount if this is best for achieving statewide coverage of cancer care in Rural Iowa, as determined solely by the Agency. This procurement is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling approximately $151,792,440 over a five-year period with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official view of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government. This work implements a portion of the Combat Cancer: Prevent and Treat initiative of the Iowa Healthy Hometowns Project, funded through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Rural Health Transformation Program, opportunity #: CMS-RHT-26-001.
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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