AZRHTP - Behavioral Health & SUD Expansion

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the state agency responsible for administering Medicaid services in Arizona, is offering a competitive grant opportunity under the Arizona Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This initiative is funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services via the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with a broader federal award supporting statewide rural health transformation efforts. This particular funding opportunity represents the seventh solicitation under the RHTP and focuses on expanding behavioral health and substance use disorder services across rural and Tribal communities in Arizona. The purpose of this grant is to address critical gaps in behavioral health access, workforce capacity, and prevention programming in underserved rural regions. The program consolidates three major initiative areas into a single funding opportunity: expansion of mobile and digital behavioral health services, training and recruitment of behavioral health professionals, and implementation of evidence-based prevention programs addressing suicide, trauma, and substance use. These efforts are intended to improve timely access to care, strengthen workforce pipelines, and reduce behavioral health risks across vulnerable populations, including youth and families. Funding is structured across multiple tiers within each program area, allowing applicants to request support aligned with their organizational capacity and project scope. Eligible uses of funds include establishing new service delivery models, expanding existing services to new populations or geographic areas, deploying mobile health units, building workforce training systems, and implementing prevention programs in schools and communities. Funds may not be used to maintain existing services, replace current funding sources, or duplicate services already supported through other funding streams such as Medicaid or Medicare. Administrative costs are capped at seven percent of each award for grantees, in alignment with federal and state requirements. Eligibility for this grant is limited to a defined set of entity types that serve rural or Tribal populations in Arizona. These include various hospital types, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, behavioral health organizations, Tribal health entities, public health departments, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and certain for-profit healthcare entities. Applicants must demonstrate that proposed services will be delivered in HRSA-defined rural areas within Arizona, and eligibility is based on service location rather than organizational headquarters. Applicants must also meet federal requirements such as SAM registration and demonstrate financial and operational capacity. Applications must be submitted through the State of Arizona’s online grant system, EUNA, by the stated deadline. The application process requires careful adherence to submission instructions, as late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applicants are responsible for monitoring the system for updates or amendments to the solicitation. Questions must be submitted electronically by the specified deadline, and a pre-application conference is offered via Zoom to provide guidance. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request with advance notice. The application window opens on July 31, 2026, and closes on August 28, 2026. Questions must be submitted by August 10, 2026, and a pre-application webinar is scheduled for August 7, 2026. The anticipated period of performance for funded projects runs from the award date through October 30, 2026, corresponding to the first budget period of the broader five-year RHTP initiative. Continued funding beyond the initial period is contingent upon federal approval, performance outcomes, and availability of funds, with annual review and continuation applications required. This funding opportunity is not described as recurring in a standard annual cycle but is part of a multi-year program with multiple solicitations released over time. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the full Request for Grant Applications to understand detailed requirements, evaluation criteria, and program expectations. Contact for all inquiries is provided through the AHCCCS procurement office via email.

20-40 hours