Rural Health Transformation Program – OTP Workforce Incentive Program

The Rural Health Transformation OTP Workforce Incentive Program is administered by the Washington State Health Care Authority as part of a broader federally funded initiative supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program is funded through a significant federal investment designed to strengthen rural health systems, with Washington State receiving substantial initial funding to implement targeted workforce and system improvements. This specific opportunity is structured as a request for applications seeking qualified organizations to participate in a workforce incentive initiative focused on opioid treatment programs serving rural communities. The primary purpose of this grant is to establish and support a workforce incentive program that improves recruitment, retention, and capacity of clinicians working in opioid treatment programs that serve rural populations. The program is intended to strengthen access to medication-assisted treatment and related behavioral health services by stabilizing and expanding the workforce. Eligible uses of funds include recruitment bonuses, relocation assistance, childcare stipends, capacity payments, and other approved incentives tied to a required five year service commitment. Funding must directly support long term system transformation goals and demonstrate clear benefits to rural health systems and outcomes. The funding structure provides awards ranging from one hundred thousand dollars to five hundred thousand dollars per organization for each budget period. The total funding available for the first budget period is up to six million two hundred thousand dollars, with a similar amount anticipated for the second budget period pending federal approval. Funds must be expended within defined performance periods, with the first period ending September 30 2027 and the second ending September 30 2028. Contracts are structured as professional services agreements with no direct funding attached, under which work orders are issued to obligate funds for each budget year. Eligibility is limited to organizations that meet strict regulatory and operational criteria. Applicants must be licensed behavioral health agencies in Washington State and must operate as licensed opioid treatment programs providing opioid use disorder services. They must employ at least one qualified clinician and be willing to serve Medicare and Medicaid patients. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate that they serve rural populations within Washington and contribute to rural health system improvements. Organizations must also be licensed to do business in Washington or commit to obtaining licensure within thirty days of selection. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to the designated RFA coordinator and must include several required components. These include applicant forms and certifications, responses to detailed application questions covering organizational capacity and implementation plans, a budget proposal template, and optionally redlined contract terms if exceptions are requested. Applications must follow strict formatting and submission guidelines, including specific file formats and required signatures. Late submissions are not accepted unless technical issues on the agency side warrant an exception. The evaluation process includes an administrative review followed by a scored evaluation of application content. Applicants must first pass eligibility and completeness checks before being scored on organizational experience, community understanding, implementation strategy, sustainability, and budget justification. Scores are assigned using a standardized rubric and weighted across multiple sections. Award notifications are expected to begin in early September 2026 following an evaluation period in August. The program timeline includes an application deadline of August 12 2026 and anticipated contract execution beginning between September and October 2026. The overall contract term extends through September 30 2031, covering multiple budget and performance periods aligned with federal funding cycles. While this specific funding round focuses on the first two budget periods, the broader program framework allows for continued funding through subsequent periods subject to federal approval. Additional application rounds may be announced if funding remains available, indicating a potential recurring opportunity. All communications regarding the application must be directed to the designated contact email provided by the Health Care Authority.

Ensure all eligibility criteria are met before submission; strictly follow formatting and file requirements; provide detailed implementation and budget justification aligned with rural health outcomes