Smart Care Catalyst Implementation Support to Strengthen VBC Participation Grant Program

The Rural Health Transformation Program Smart Care Catalyst Implementation Support to Strengthen VBC Participation is a state-administered funding opportunity issued by the West Virginia Department of Health. This program is part of a broader Rural Health Transformation Program funded through a federal award of approximately two hundred million dollars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under federal legislation enacted in July 2025. The initiative is designed to improve healthcare delivery, reduce chronic disease burden, and enhance workforce participation across rural communities in West Virginia, with a particular emphasis on strengthening healthcare infrastructure and outcomes through value-based care models. The specific purpose of this funding opportunity is to support one or more qualified entities in providing implementation support services that enable healthcare providers and payers to participate in value-based care models focused exclusively on substance use disorder. The program prioritizes southern counties of West Virginia, where substance use disorder has had a significant impact on health outcomes and economic stability. The selected grantee or grantees will act as operational partners to translate value-based care model design into real-world implementation through structured onboarding, technical assistance, workflow redesign, and reporting enablement. Funding under this opportunity totals one million five hundred thousand dollars and is tied to milestone-based deliverables. The funding period extends through July 31, 2027, with all funds required to be expended within that timeframe. Payments are structured to include an initial advance for startup costs followed by reimbursements contingent upon achievement of defined milestones such as stakeholder engagement completion, readiness assessments, barrier analysis, and actionable implementation recommendations. Administrative costs are capped at ten percent of the total award, and funds must supplement existing services rather than replace them, in accordance with federal maintenance of effort requirements. Eligible applicants include organizations with demonstrated capability in provider enablement, value-based care implementation, healthcare transformation, population health operations, and healthcare analytics. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to engage stakeholders, assess readiness for participation in value-based care models, identify operational and systemic barriers, and develop actionable recommendations for implementation. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes, rapid deployment, provider-centered solutions, and compliance with statewide data integration requirements, including alignment with state data systems and reporting standards. The application process requires submission through the West Virginia OASIS Vendor Self Service portal. Applicants must provide a comprehensive application narrative addressing organizational capacity, project impact, implementation feasibility, and long-term sustainability. Additional required components include a detailed line-item budget and narrative justification, a contact list with designated roles, and a county-level service plan. Applications are evaluated based on organizational readiness, impact on health outcomes, feasibility, sustainability, and budget, with a minimum score threshold required for funding consideration. Key dates include a release date of July 27, 2026, and an application deadline of August 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Questions must be submitted within three business days of the posting date, and technical assistance inquiries are directed to the program coordinator via email. Reporting requirements for awarded entities include monthly and quarterly programmatic and financial reports, as well as compliance with CMS and state oversight activities. This opportunity represents a targeted investment in strengthening rural healthcare systems through coordinated, data-driven, and outcome-focused implementation of value-based care models.

Focus on measurable outcomes provider readiness and rapid implementation capability; ensure strong data integration and reporting plans aligned with state requirements