Federal Grant Award Summary

St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center, Inc. received a $350,000 Project Grant from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy under the Delta Health Systems Implementation Program (CFDA 93.619) effective September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. As Arkansas' first rural emergency hospital, the organization will implement comprehensive revenue cycle best practices and financial sustainability improvements across three structured phases. Phase One enhances patient financial engagement through real-time insurance verification and expanded financial counseling services. Phase Two addresses medical coding accuracy via staff training, regular audits, and improved modifier usage to maximize reimbursements. Phase Three optimizes billing and claims processing through electronic health records (EHR) integration, advanced billing software, automated claim scrubbing, predictive analytics, and strengthened payer negotiations. The implementation plan is based on technical assistance recommendations from consulting firms FORVIS and Stroudwater.

The award supports St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center's mission to serve the rural population of Randolph County by reducing uncompensated care while maintaining patient-centered care delivery. The initiative emphasizes staff training on financial engagement, billing accuracy, and compassionate communication to ensure transparent and accessible healthcare services. Upon completion of the federally-funded period, the organization plans to sustain these revenue cycle improvements through integration into standard operational practices, supporting long-term financial viability for continued rural healthcare access.