PHPA 3936 - Rooted and Resilient Rural Maryland: Transformation through Sustainable Access, Innovative Care, and Tech Innovation

Background
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH), through the joint efforts of the Prevention and Health Promotion Administration (PHPA), Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), and the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), is issuing this Request for Applications (RFA) to award funding under the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This program aims to improve health outcomes in rural Maryland by expanding access to primary care, specialty care, and behavioral health services.

The RHTP is financially supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $168,180,837.61, with 100% funded by CMS/HHS. The total funding available through this RFA is $73 million for RHTP Budget Period 1, with potential for similar funding in subsequent periods.

Work Details
This RFA solicits proposals for three Transformation Funds within Maryland’s RHTP Pillar Two: Promote Sustainable Access and Innovative Care:
1. Sustainable Access Through Service Expansion and Health Information Technology (HIT) Advances;
2. Behavioral Health Service Expansion;
3. Innovative Care.

Goals include:
- Expanding primary care, specialty care, and behavioral health care to meet current demand and build long-term capacity;
- Promoting efficient management of chronic health conditions;
- Leveraging technology to bring healthcare directly to rural residents;
- Empowering residents to manage their chronic conditions;
- Helping providers adopt innovative, value-based care models.

Projects must demonstrate alignment with allowable scopes of work that strengthen care coordination, improve chronic condition management, expand access to care, enhance accountability for total cost of care, or accelerate transition to sustainable payment models.

Period of Performance
The anticipated duration of services is from August 15, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Place of Performance
The project must serve one or more of Maryland’s rural counties including Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester.

Bidder Requirements
Applicants must be eligible entities such as social organizations or government/academic entities. They must provide documentation of tax-exempt status if applicable and be in good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Applicants can apply as either a Transformation Collaborative or a Sole Organization and must demonstrate capacity and expertise relevant to their chosen focus area.