The Colorado Rural Mobile Health Project (CRMHP) was a project formed around funding provided by the UnitedHealthcare Foundation. UnitedHealthcare, in collaboration with the Governor Owen's Office and the past Insurance Commissioner, David Rivera, contributed $1 million toward the development and maintenance of healthcare services throughout rural Colorado. These funds created the Colorado Rural Mobile Health Project - a program that has now been completed. Please click here to view the December 21, 2005 press release announcing the funds.
$851,042 was awarded to eight organizations to support mobile units currently in operation in rural and underserved Colorado. The awarded organizations are: Bent County Nursing Service, University of Colorado School of Dentistry, Kids in Need of Dentistry, Salud Family Health Center, San Juan Basin Health Department, North Colorado Health Alliance, The Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics, and Valley-Wide Health Systems. For more information on these specific projects, please visit www.coruralhealth.org/crhc/programs/crmhp_projects.htm.
Below is the CRMHP Timeline, detailing CRMHP’s establishment, development, and grantmaking.
The Insurance Commissioner asks the Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) to take a lead in developing the project.
February 2006
CRHC forms a Steering Committee to provide guidance and oversight to the project. Steering Committee
The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) agrees to provide $75,000 for the development phase of the project.
March 2006
A Request for Proposal (RFP) is developed to identify a contractor to research rural mobile health opportunities and challenges. RFP Letter
Five organizations respond to the RFP; the Colorado Foundation of Medical Care (CFMC) is selected to carry out the research. RFP Presentation
April 2006
The Steering Committee meets regularly with staff from CFMC and representatives of various rural mobile health service organizations to learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of this delivery model.
CRHC collects information through site visits and provider meetings - including the Annual Rural Health Clinics Forum - regarding mobile services. This is presented to the Steering Committee on an ongoing basis.
Steering Committee decides it will not be feasible to develop new mobile unit and services before year-end. Develop a two-phase strategy whereby some funds will be released in 2007 to support current mobile health services, while the feaiability and need for new services is examined.
Steering Committee approves CRHC's proposal for a grant program to support rural mobile services. CRHC contracts with the Community Resource Center (CRC) to manage the grant-making process.
Seventeen grant applications are received, totaling $1,082,147 in requests. CRHC develops review criteria and process - approved by the Steering Committee. Multiple volunteers review each application; recommendations are made to the Steering Committee for approval. Grant Application Scoring Sheet
September 2006
Thirteen grants are awarded to eight organizations, totaling $851,042. The activities funded by these grants will provide services in at least 29 rural Colorado counties. List of Grantees Map of Projects
October 2006
DOLA receives check from United Health Foundation for $1 milion.
DOLA enters into one-year contract with CRHC to manage the CRMHP grants.
November 2006
Election means the loss of several Steering Committee members - new Governor and Insurance Commissioner.
