The Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP) is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP). Section 1820(g)(3) of the Social Security Act (SSA) authorizes SHIP to assist eligible hospitals in meeting the costs of implementing data system requirements established under the Medicare Program, including using funds to assist hospitals in participating in improvements in value and quality to health care such as:

1.     Value-Based Purchasing Programs (VBP)

2.     A​ccountable Care Organiza​​tions (ACOs) 

3.     Payment Bundling (PB)