Rural Health Transformation Program – Provider Technology Fund

The Rural Health Transformation Program – Provider Technology Fund is administered by the Washington State Health Care Authority and supported through federal funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This funding opportunity is part of a broader national initiative designed to strengthen rural health systems through targeted investments in technology, infrastructure, and care delivery modernization. The program reflects a statewide implementation of a larger federal effort to address persistent disparities in rural healthcare access, workforce limitations, and infrastructure gaps. The primary purpose of this grant is to support rural healthcare providers in adopting and expanding the use of digital health technologies. This includes telehealth services, remote patient monitoring tools, data infrastructure improvements, and operational modernization efforts. The program aims to enhance care coordination, improve patient outcomes, and increase access to high quality healthcare services in rural communities across Washington State. Funding may be used for purchasing and licensing new technology systems, securing technical assistance, and facilitating regional coordination efforts that align with the program’s long term transformation goals. The funding structure is designed to support multiple organizations, with individual awards varying based on need, geographic coverage, and projected impact. For each budget period, the Health Care Authority has allocated up to eleven million five hundred thousand dollars in total funding, with individual awards ranging from two hundred thousand to five hundred thousand dollars per organization. Applicants must request funding within this range, as applications outside these limits will be considered non responsive. Funding is distributed through work orders tied to specific performance periods, and all awarded funds must be expended within the designated timelines. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad but specifically focused on organizations that directly provide or support healthcare services in Washington State, particularly those serving rural populations. Eligible applicants include hospitals, clinics, federally qualified health centers, behavioral health providers, emergency medical services organizations, nonprofit and private healthcare entities, tribal organizations, and community based service providers. Applicants must be licensed to do business in Washington or commit to obtaining licensure within thirty days of selection, and must demonstrate that they are actively engaged in delivering or supporting healthcare services within the state. The application process requires submission of several structured components, including applicant forms and certifications, responses to detailed application questions, a budget proposal, and acceptance or redlining of a sample draft contract. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to the designated RFA coordinator by the stated deadline. The evaluation process includes an administrative review for completeness and eligibility, followed by a scored evaluation based on organizational experience, community demographics, implementation planning, sustainability, and budget justification. Applications are scored using a weighted system with a maximum total score of one thousand ninety five points. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes a structured sequence of events beginning with the release of the request for applications in mid July 2026. Applicants were required to submit questions by late July, with responses provided by the end of that month. Final applications are due by August 13, 2026, with evaluations occurring through the end of August and award notifications beginning in early September. Contracts are expected to begin between September and October 2026, with performance periods extending through September 2031 depending on the funding cycle and work order structure. The program operates on defined budget and performance periods, with initial funding awarded for the first two periods and potential continuation contingent on federal approval. While the request for applications does not explicitly guarantee recurring cycles, it allows for additional application periods if funding remains available after the initial deadline. This flexibility ensures that the program can adapt to funding availability and continue supporting rural healthcare transformation efforts over time.

Align proposal clearly with rural health transformation goals and demonstrate measurable impact strong implementation planning and sustainability