Mobile Integrated Health Grant

The Rural Health Transformation Program Mobile Integrated Health Grant Funding Opportunity is administered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services through its Division of Health Service Regulation and the Office of Emergency Medical Services. This initiative is funded through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is part of a broader federal effort to improve rural healthcare delivery systems. The program is designed to address persistent health inequities in rural North Carolina, where barriers such as provider shortages, transportation limitations, and inadequate infrastructure contribute to fragmented care and poor health outcomes, particularly in behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to expand Mobile Integrated Health and Community Paramedicine programs operated by licensed Emergency Medical Services agencies. These programs aim to improve access to medication for opioid use disorder, strengthen behavioral health crisis response systems, and reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization. The initiative emphasizes care delivery in community and home settings, allowing EMS clinicians to provide follow-up care, initiate treatment protocols, and connect patients to ongoing services. The program also promotes integration across clinical, behavioral health, and social service systems to improve continuity of care. Funding supports a wide range of allowable activities directly tied to program implementation or expansion. These include workforce development, staffing, operational infrastructure, clinical equipment, data systems, and training. Funds may also support partnerships with treatment providers to enhance access to behavioral health and substance use disorder services. However, strict funding restrictions apply. Administrative costs are capped at ten percent of the total award, new construction is not permitted, and funds cannot be used for services reimbursable through other payers such as Medicaid or private insurance. Additional limitations apply to salary caps and infrastructure investments. Eligibility for this grant is limited to licensed North Carolina EMS agencies that provide primary 911 response services and operate within qualifying rural or rural-adjacent counties based on population density criteria. Applicants must demonstrate their ability to support rural communities with limited access to behavioral health services. Organizations must also show readiness to implement or expand Mobile Integrated Health or Community Paramedicine programs, including evidence of clinical oversight, referral pathways, and defined target populations. The application process requires submission through the ReadyOp online portal by May 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants must complete all required fields and upload a comprehensive narrative document addressing program design, organizational capacity, community need, and expected outcomes. Additional required components include a line-item budget, budget narrative, and supporting documentation such as letters of support and proof of medical director involvement. Applications are evaluated based on community need, program impact, alignment with statewide goals, and implementation readiness. The total funding available for this program is ten million dollars, with an estimated fifty to one hundred awards issued. Individual award amounts for the first year are expected to range from fifty thousand to three hundred thousand dollars. The initial performance period runs from July 1, 2026 through October 30, 2027, with the possibility of continuation funding in subsequent years based on performance and availability of funds. Award notifications are expected to be issued on June 1, 2026, and selected applicants must be prepared to initiate services within ninety to one hundred eighty days of contract execution. Oversight and evaluation of funded programs will be conducted by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services, which will require bi-monthly reporting on performance metrics, patient outcomes, and service delivery. Applications are scored using a structured evaluation framework totaling one hundred points, with emphasis placed on demonstrated community need, the extent to which the project fills service gaps, alignment with statewide priorities, and readiness for implementation. Questions and application inquiries may be directed to the program team via email, and applicants are encouraged to review available webinar materials prior to submission.

Focus on demonstrating strong community need and measurable outcomes; Clearly align proposal with behavioral health access and EMS integration goals; Provide detailed implementation readiness within 90 to 180 days