Rapid Response Stabilization Program

The Rapid Response Stabilization Program Payment Certification is a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services funding opportunity under the Rural Health Transformation Program. The Department is authorized under Section 203-H of the Fiscal Code to issue program payments to qualified entities. Funding is contingent on federal funds being appropriated to and received by the Department, and program payments must be used in accordance with federal and state law and Pennsylvania's federally approved Rural Health Transformation Program application. This is not a competitive solicitation; payments are authorized in the order complete eligibility certifications and required documents are received. The purpose of the payment is to stabilize or enhance rural health care access and promote rural well-being through one or more of six approved Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives: Aging and Access, Behavioral Health, Emergency Medical Services and Transportation, Maternal Health, Technology and Infrastructure, and Workforce. Eligible payment uses are limited to supplies, equipment, renovations, or structural improvements that support those initiatives. Examples in the certification include EMS infrastructure repair, reliable nonemergency transportation, remote behavioral health consultation, remote monitoring for maternal health, digital infrastructure, mobile and digital health, renovations or structural improvements, rural clinic training, and new or expanded workforce models such as primary care medics and community paramedicine. The total funding available for all program payments under this certification is capped at $25,000,000. Each qualified entity may receive one payment of at least $10,000 and not more than $1,000,000. Program payments may not be used for costs already incurred, to supplant another Rural Health Transformation Program allocation, stabilization award, federal or state funding, or insurance reimbursement, or for ongoing projects that require Department monitoring after costs are incurred. Funds also may not be used for educational awards, PA Patient Provider Network Health Information Organization onboarding, electronic health record systems, mobile health units, ambulance enhancements, or educational awards, because those will be addressed through separate payments or applications. Eligible applicants are qualified entities that are hospitals, health care providers as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1397ee(h)(9), or rural health facilities as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1397ee(h)(3)(D), and that meet the definition of qualified entity under Section 201-H of the Fiscal Code. Entities must currently operate in Pennsylvania, must have been in operation since at least December 29, 2025, must be fully operational in Pennsylvania when funding is received, and must hold applicable Pennsylvania licensure or approval if required. The entity must be located in an eligible rural Pennsylvania county or HRSA-defined rural census tract, and must use the payment to serve one or more eligible rural counties or one or more of the Rural Health Transformation Program regions listed in the certification. Applications are accepted by email only. Entities must submit the completed program request and eligibility certification with all required attachments to RA-HHRRLHLTHTRNSPLAN@pa.gov. Attachments are limited to 10 MB cumulatively per email, compressed files are not accepted, and encrypted email submissions are not accepted. If the submission must be split into multiple emails, each email must be labeled with the entity name and "Program Request Part X of Y." A submission is deemed received as of the date and time of the final email, unless the submission is incomplete. Required materials include documentation of entity status, proof of Pennsylvania registration or incorporation, licensure or approval if applicable, documentation identifying rural counties served, a service area description, a use-of-funds description not exceeding 2000 words, a budget narrative not exceeding 2000 words, a quote or estimate, a completed budget worksheet, anticipated number of people served, and a funding disclosure table for related public funding received or pending within the past 24 months. The application window opens May 1, 2026 and closes June 1, 2026, or earlier if the authorized funding cap is met. Written questions were due by April 29, 2026 at noon, with responses to be posted on the Department's website at the Department's discretion. The Department may reject incomplete requests or may request missing information, but a request will not be deemed received until the missing information is provided. Under the first tranche, payments are limited to two program payments per Rural Health Transformation Program region; once two payments are administered in each of the eight regions, or after June 1, 2026, whichever is earlier, the second tranche begins and payments are no longer limited by region. After receiving a program payment, a qualified entity must submit documentation supporting use of the full payment amount within 30 days after incurring a cost attributed to the funding. Acceptable documentation includes an itemized receipt or invoice. The payment must be expended before July 31, 2027, and the certification also states that unused funds must be returned if unspent on June 30, 2027, with return of funding by July 31, 2031. Entities must maintain audit documentation through February 27, 2031 and provide unredacted documentation to the Commonwealth, federal government, and their representatives upon request. Failure to comply with program requirements may result in withholding, reduction, or recovery of payments.

Submit as early as possible because payments are authorized in the order complete eligibility certifications and required documents are received. Ensure every required section and attachment is complete because incomplete requests may be rejected or not deemed received until missing materials are provided. Keep email attachments under the 10 MB cumulative limit, do not use compressed or encrypted files, and label multi-part submissions exactly as instructed. Clearly tie the proposed use to supplies, equipment, renovations, or structural improvements that stabilize or enhance rural health care access, promote rural well-being, and fall under at least one approved RHTP initiative.