Two Maryland RFPs and Pennsylvania staffs up
Washington, Alaska, and Oklahoma engage. Missouri and Alaska push legislation
In this issue:
Maryland posts two RFPs
Pennsylvania posts nine RHT positon
Washington RHT Advisory Committee applications due Friday
Alakska is holding Advisory Committee meeting today
Oklahoma posts thee new RHTP Roadshow events for June
Maryland posts two RFPs
The following Budget Period 1 competitive funding opportunities are now open for application submission. Links to the solicitations can be found on the Maryland RHTP website, Open Competitive Procurement Opportunities page. Please read the solicitations fully, ensuring understanding of application requirements, closing dates, and appropriate contact methods for questions.
1. PHPA 3936 - Rooted and Resilient Rural Maryland: Transformation through Sustainable Access, Innovative Care, and Tech Innovation (Pillar 2, Transformation Funds): Goals of this Request for Application include: Expanding primary care, specialty care, and behavioral health care to meet current demand and build long-term capacity to improve health outcomes; Promoting efficient and effective management of chronic somatic and behavioral health conditions; Leveraging technology to bring healthcare directly to rural residents; Empowering residents to manage somatic and behavioral chronic conditions; and Helping providers adopt innovative, value-based care models.
2. Rural Maryland Council Grant Opportunities: Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program (Pillar 3,Transformation Funds): Together, these two funding opportunities aim to strengthen Maryland’s local food system - supporting both the supply chain and institutional demand for locally produced, healthy food.
Food Aggregation – Build or expand systems that connect local farmers to larger buyers (schools, hospitals, retailers).
Purchasing Strategy – Help institutions transition to buying more locally sourced, healthy foods.
Also: full video of April 17 webinar. Slides were published yesterday.
Pennslvania is hiring
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is now hiring Regional Policy Specialists and an Executive Policy Specialist to help implement PA’s Rural Health Transformation Plan! Please share the job postings with your network.
Washington invites applications for their RHT Advisory Committee
Apply for the Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Committee
As part of Washington state’s Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, we’re organizing an advisory committee (AC). The RHT-AC will help prioritize projects, make policy recommendations, and play a driving role for the RHT Program.
If you have experience in health care or public health, as well as passion for improving systems, we encourage you to apply. Your work could make all the difference for rural Washingtonians.
Oklahoma posts new roadshow and touchpoint events
Legislation Watch
The two state budget vehicles below are the appropriations tracks through which RHTP dollars will actually reach communities — without them, the federal awards sit unspent.
Missouri HB2011: The FY2027 Department of Social Services appropriations bill, the primary vehicle through which Missouri’s $216 million first-year RHTP award will be appropriated for spending. DSS is the lead agency on the state’s Rural Health Transformation plan, which was developed jointly with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Department of Mental Health. Missouri Independent
Missouri’s plan calls for 10 grants in 2026 to fund rural hospital infrastructure projects and three grants to stand up new service lines like oncology and obstetric surgery, along with technology contracts and staffing for a new Rural Health Transformation Office housed inside DSS. KCUR
HB2011 has now been reported Do Pass with a Senate Committee Substitute, clearing a major step toward conference before the session deadline.
Alaska HB263: The FY2026 supplemental operating budget, the conduit through which the $272 million RHTP award — the second-largest state award in the country and, at $368 per resident, the highest per-capita — would be appropriated. A separate legislative committee already approved up to $200 million in receipt authority for RHTP funds in November 2025, but HB263 carries the formal spending authority into the supplemental budget. Anchorage Daily News
Lawmakers have voiced concern that the Dunleavy administration has not yet briefed them on detailed implementation plans, and a recent legislative audit flagged “extensive” accounting problems inside the Department of Health. Alaska must pass further implementing legislation by 2027 to retain the full $1.36 billion five-year commitment. Alaska’s News Source
HB263 has passed the House as CSHB 263(FIN) AM and is now moving through the Senate.
Lastly
Florida says chill: “The Agency has entered a restricted communication period due to the release of the Requests for Applications (RFA) for the Rural Health Transformation Program. Therefore, the Agency will not engage in any discussions or meetings with applicants or their representatives or agents related to the RFA scopes or evaluations. All inquiries should be submitted to the Agency’s Sole Point of Contact identified in the RFAs.