AZRHTP - Technical Assistance: Operational & Fiscal Performance

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System issues this Request for Grant Applications under the Arizona Rural Health Transformation Program to support Technical Assistance for Operational and Fiscal Performance. This initiative represents part of a broader statewide effort funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The overall program is designed to improve healthcare access, workforce capacity, provider sustainability, and population health outcomes across rural and Tribal communities in Arizona. The Rural Health Transformation Program targets approximately eight hundred thousand rural residents and is structured as a five year initiative, with continuation funding dependent on annual federal review and approval. The purpose of this specific funding opportunity is to provide targeted technical assistance to rural healthcare organizations to strengthen operational efficiency, financial management, and network development. The program emphasizes improving workflow processes, enhancing billing and revenue cycle systems, and supporting governance structures necessary for integrated rural health networks. It also prioritizes preparing providers for value based care models by building capacity in quality metrics, population health management, and alternative payment systems. Additionally, the program includes compliance support to ensure organizations meet federal grant requirements and maintain audit readiness. Funding is structured through a tiered model to accommodate organizations of varying size and capacity. Tier one supports smaller providers with limited scope activities such as operational assessments and billing audits, while higher tiers support broader system implementations and network level initiatives. Funding is available up to a total of two million eight hundred thousand dollars per budget year, with individual award sizes varying by tier. Administrative costs are capped, with a maximum of seven percent allowed at the grantee level. Costs must align with federal regulations and cannot be used to replace existing funding sources or maintain current service levels without expansion. Eligible applicants include a wide range of rural healthcare entities such as hospitals, primary care clinics, behavioral health providers, Tribal health organizations, public health departments, and nonprofit healthcare organizations. Applicants must demonstrate that services will be delivered in areas defined as rural according to federal criteria. Both governmental and private entities may apply, provided they meet requirements related to legal status, financial capability, and federal compliance. Tribally operated healthcare organizations are explicitly eligible, and partnerships with Tribal entities are encouraged and may strengthen application scoring. Applications must be submitted through the State of Arizona online grants system by the specified deadline. The process requires careful adherence to submission instructions, as late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applicants are responsible for monitoring the system for updates or amendments to the solicitation. A pre application conference is offered to provide guidance, and all formal questions must be submitted electronically by the stated deadline. No grace period is provided for technical issues during submission. The application period opens on July twenty fourth two thousand twenty six and closes on August twenty first two thousand twenty six. The anticipated period of performance begins upon award and extends through October thirtieth two thousand twenty six for the first budget period. Additional funding for subsequent years is contingent on performance and continued federal approval. This opportunity does not specify exact award notification timing, but it operates within a structured federal funding cycle tied to ongoing program evaluation and continuation requirements.

18 hours