Rural Health Provider Recruitment and Retention Program

The Rural Health Provider Recruitment and Retention Program is administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services through its Bureau of Grants and Purchasing under the broader Rural Health Transformation Program. This initiative is part of a statewide effort to strengthen rural health systems by ensuring that residents in underserved and rural communities have consistent access to high quality healthcare services. The program is funded through federal support provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and it reflects a strategic investment in workforce development as a key driver of improved health outcomes. The primary purpose of the program is to increase access to healthcare and improve outcomes for rural populations by recruiting, training, and retaining qualified healthcare providers. Applicants are expected to propose innovative workforce solutions that address gaps in rural healthcare delivery. These solutions must align with identified community needs and may target a range of healthcare professions including primary care, behavioral health, oral health, and maternal health. The program emphasizes community driven strategies and requires applicants to demonstrate how their proposed activities will meet documented needs through data such as community health assessments. Funding supports a variety of allowable activities focused on workforce development. These include recruitment incentives such as relocation assistance and signing bonuses, training and education programs such as apprenticeships and continuing education, and retention strategies such as wellness programs and professional development initiatives. However, certain costs are explicitly unallowable, including construction, land acquisition, unrelated incentives, and expenses reimbursed by other funding sources. Applicants must ensure that proposed budgets comply with these restrictions and align with program objectives. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad and includes nonprofit organizations, public and private entities, local health departments, federally recognized tribes, universities, and healthcare providers serving rural populations. The program prioritizes applicants that demonstrate capacity to implement workforce strategies and serve high need rural areas. Applicants must also comply with specific requirements such as maintaining performance metrics, participating in reporting activities, and tracking a mandatory five year service commitment for healthcare providers benefiting from the program. The application process requires submission through the EGrAMS online system. Applicants must complete registration, submit a project director request, and ensure that their application and all required materials are submitted by the specified deadline. A pre application conference is offered to provide guidance on the submission process, and technical assistance is available until the day of the deadline. Applications must include a detailed proposal, workplan, and budget outlining how funds will be used and how outcomes will be measured. Applications are evaluated through a competitive scoring process with a maximum of 100 points. Evaluation criteria include program implementation, organizational experience, staff qualifications, workplan quality, and budget justification. Only applications scoring at least 80 points are eligible for funding. Additional factors such as financial stability, prior performance, and the ability to meet program requirements may also influence award decisions. The application timeline includes a publication date of July 6, 2026, a pre application conference on July 15, 2026, and a final submission deadline of August 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. The anticipated award period runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Successful applicants will be notified following the review process and must enter into a formal agreement with the state. The program does not require matching funds, although optional match contributions are allowed.

Align proposal with documented rural health needs and clearly link workforce strategies to measurable outcomes; ensure budget justification is detailed and allowable; demonstrate capacity and readiness to implement programs