Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program

The Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program is a federal discretionary grant opportunity administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The opportunity is identified by funding opportunity number HRSA-26-073 and is listed under Assistance Listing 93.619, Rural Health Limited Geographic Areas: Delta, Appalachian Region, and Northern Border Region. The program is forecasted for fiscal year 2026 and is intended to strengthen healthcare delivery systems in the Delta region through coordinated rural health network development. HRSA anticipates making eight awards under this opportunity, with an estimated total program funding amount of $2,800,000 and an individual award ceiling of $350,000. The purpose of the Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program is to improve healthcare access, integration, and coordination among rural healthcare organizations located within the Delta region. According to the opportunity description, the program seeks to support the development of integrated health networks among rural hospitals, primary care clinics, behavioral health providers, and other essential healthcare services. The funding is intended to encourage collaborative healthcare delivery models that improve service coordination, enhance patient outcomes, and strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure across geographically underserved communities. The opportunity focuses specifically on organizations serving rural populations in the Delta region, indicating a targeted geographic and population-based approach to healthcare improvement. Eligible applicants for this opportunity include a broad range of public, nonprofit, tribal, educational, and for-profit entities. Specifically eligible organizations include for-profit organizations other than small businesses, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and both public and private institutions of higher education. The opportunity also notes that successful applications must specifically target rural healthcare organizations located in the Delta region. This geographic limitation narrows eligibility to organizations that either operate in or directly serve qualifying Delta-region rural healthcare communities. The funding opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching contributions. Applicants may therefore request up to the full allowable award amount without providing a nonfederal financial contribution. The forecast notice does not provide detailed allowable cost categories, indirect cost limitations, or performance period details, but the stated purpose of supporting integrated rural healthcare networks indicates that funds are likely intended for activities such as healthcare coordination, network administration, partnership development, service integration, care delivery improvement, and related operational or programmatic activities that strengthen rural health systems. Because this announcement is currently forecasted rather than fully posted, applicants should expect additional details regarding allowable uses of funds, required application components, evaluation criteria, and reporting expectations when the complete notice of funding opportunity is released. The estimated application posting date for this opportunity is May 22, 2026. Applications are expected to be due on June 30, 2026, and electronically submitted applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. The estimated award date is September 1, 2026, with an estimated project start date of September 30, 2026. The forecast notice does not identify any required letters of intent, concept papers, pre-applications, or phased submission requirements. It also does not reference mandatory webinars, registrations beyond standard federal grant submission systems, or additional submission portals. Applicants should anticipate using standard federal application systems such as Grants.gov and should monitor the official HRSA opportunity posting for final application instructions and required forms once the complete notice becomes available. The primary agency contact for this opportunity is Christy Edwards of the Health Resources and Services Administration. The notice provides a direct phone number of 301-945-5217 and an email contact at Cedwards@hrsa.gov for applicant inquiries. The opportunity is currently categorized as a forecasted federal discretionary grant and remains subject to change until the official notice of funding opportunity is released. Based on the funding opportunity structure, timeline, and HRSA rural health programming patterns, the program appears to follow an annual federal grant cycle, although recurrence is not explicitly stated in the forecast notice. Organizations interested in rural healthcare integration initiatives within the Delta region should monitor the official HRSA and Grants.gov postings for the complete application package, evaluation criteria, funding restrictions, and project period requirements once the opportunity formally opens.

Applications should emphasize integrated healthcare delivery networks connecting rural hospitals, primary care clinics, behavioral health providers, and other essential healthcare services within the Delta region.