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Projects can be programs, services, and physical or infrastructural* investments for public spaces. In addition, projects have to meet the following criteria to be eligible for funding:

• Address Social Determinants of Health in low-income communities of color.
• Be inclusive of Medicaid beneficiaries; for example, a project that is exclusively for uninsured residents is not eligible.
• Projects must adhere to the guidelines of disallowable uses outlined below.
• Address an unmet need in the community (projects can supplement existing programs/services/projects, but can not take the place of anything that should be funded by the City, state or Federal Government, like repairing potholes)

Additional criteria for Pawtucket and Central Falls Health Equity Zone:

• The maximum cost for a single project must be less than $300,000.
• Projects have to impact residents of both Pawtucket and Central Falls.

Additional criteria for Central Providence Opportunities:

• In order to ensure that there is space for big projects and small projects, $120,000 will be set aside for smaller projects with a maximum cost of $30,000 each. Of those projects, at least 2 must be implemented in 02908, and 2 in 02909. With that, the maximum amount a single project can cost is $880,000.

Disallowable Uses Explanation:

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services requires that HSTP incentive funds will not be used for specific expenditures as outlined below. These non-allowable expenditures have been developed in alignment with Section 2 CFR 200 which outlines Financial Management and Internal Control Requirements for receipt, tracking and use of federal funds by non-Federal awardees. EOHHS will vet projects before they are voted on by the community to ensure that they meet the requirements of allowable expenditures. Please note, all prospective projects must be inclusive to Medicaid beneficiaries; for example a project that is exclusively for uninsured residents, is not eligible. 

General Disallowable Uses 

Expenditures cannot include the following: 
   

• Alcoholic beverages  
• Medical Marijuana 
• Certain Capital expenditures (unless approved in advance by EOHHS) *See guidance below 
• Credit Card Payments   
• Debt restructuring and bad debt  
• Student Loan Repayment  
• Defense and prosecution of criminal and civil proceedings, and claims  
• Donations, fund raising, and investment management costs  
• Fines and penalties  
• Goods or services for personal use, including but not limited to entertainment, gift cards or other cash equivalents 
• Idle facilities and idle capacity  
• Insurance and indemnification  
• Licenses (drivers, professional or vocational) 
• Lobbying  
• Memberships and subscription costs 
   

Duplication Disallowable Uses
 

HSTP funding cannot substitute, duplicate, or replace services or goods that are available through other state or federal programs (e.g., Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), SNAP Nutritional Education (SNAP-Ed), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or other RI Medicaid MCO and FFS (wrap) Covered Services. Potential areas of duplication include, but are not limited to:  

• RI Medicaid Covered Services. 
• Services that are duplicative of services a member is already receiving or services where other funding sources are available such as services that a Medicaid beneficiary is eligible for, and able to receive from a federal agency, or another state agency. In certain cases, a beneficiary may not be “able to” access certain programs and thus HSTP funds may be utilized. Such cases may include, but are not limited to, situations where:  
• A program has run out of funds or lacks capacity (e.g., organization does not have the resources to assist with additional enrollment)  
• There is delayed access to services or goods (e.g., wait list, waiting for a determination on eligibility and availability). 
   

 While HSTP funds cannot duplicate federal or state benefits or services, they can supplement such programs. 
 

Capital Expenditures Guidance 

 HSTP funds made available through the PB process may not be used to fund capital expenditures that generate revenue for a private entity or entities (e.g., renovation or expansion of a private business). Capital expenditures for public benefit will be allowable. EOHHS will be available throughout the process to advise on allowable and disallowable capital expenditures and will vet projects before they are voted on by the community to ensure that they meet the requirements for capital expenditures.