# Request for Proposals: Revenue Cycle Assessment for The Rural Collaborative (WA Rural Health Transformation Program)

The Rural Collaborative (TRC), a network of 31 independent Washington State hospitals (28 CAHs and 3 PPS hospitals), seeks proposals from consulting firms to conduct comprehensive, root cause Revenue Cycle Assessments as funded under the Rural Health Transformation Program grant. The objectives are to deliver current-state assessments, EHR/ERP configuration reviews, actionable operational playbooks, prioritized roadmaps with quantified opportunity sizing, board-ready presentations, and collaborative benchmarking deliverables. Vendors must address staffing/workflow bottlenecks, payer friction, technology/process gaps, and financial controls, with deliverable ownership residing fully with TRC and its members. Minimum requirements include named, qualified consultants, a realistic engagement plan, 6–8 on-site days per hospital, and alignment with TRC's grant reporting and data standards. Network-level outputs such as collaborative opportunity identification, benchmarking, and structured databases are also required to foster shared learning. Proposals must provide a detailed work plan, itemized budget by role/phase, and explicit CAH/PPS adaptation. Post-assessment 90-day remote check-in is required at no extra cost.

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: RFP
- Issued by: The Rural Collaborative (WA) (Washington)
- Posted: 2026-03-21
- Questions due: 2026-04-10
- Application due: 2026-05-07
- Eligible applicants: Consulting Firm, Healthcare Revenue Cycle Consultant, Vendor with demonstrated CAH/rural PPS hospital experience and relevant certifications
- How to apply: Written proposal via instructions in full RFP; email submissions accepted (no external portal listed); address and guidance provided in general RFP announcement.
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://ruralcollaborative.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TRC_RCA_Scope_Outline-FINAL.pdf

## Eligibility

Eligible applicants are consulting firms with deep experience in healthcare revenue cycle assessment for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural PPS hospitals. Minimum requirements include prior multi-hospital collaborative engagement, relevant revenue cycle certifications, ability to work with minimal rural data infrastructure, a proven track record supporting grant-funded rural health projects, and demonstrated adaptation for Washington State payer mix and CAH/PPS-specific issues.

## Requirements

Proposals must include: firm overview and CAH/rural references, sample deliverables (assessment report, roadmap), outcome evidence, explicit scope domain confirmation across all required domains (Patient Access, Clinical/Mid-Cycle, Back-End/Business Office, ERP/GL, Payer Dynamics, Operating Model/Staffing, EHR/ERP Configuration, Interfaces, and Performance Management), detailed root cause methodology with named frameworks (e.g., 5-Whys, fishbone, Pareto), data approach with periods and contingency for incomplete data, named consultant bios with CAH/rural/EHR experience, hospital engagement team structure (roles, allocation, on-site/remote split), specific on-site commitments (minimum 6–8 on-site days per hospital with listed activities and roles), detailed hospital staff time estimate per role (benchmark 75–130 hours total, aligned with TRC's breakdown), explicit multi-hospital engagement/staggering plan for Year 1, itemized budget by phase/role/hospital and total hours breakdown, hourly rates by role for additional services, travel/accommodation estimate or travel cap, volume/collaborative pricing for 31-member contract, explicit data ownership confirmation (all deliverables to TRC/hospitals), milestone-based invoicing approach and terms, 90-day post-assessment check-in plan at no cost, and menu of optional implementation support. Proposals must distinguish hospital/TRC versus vendor responsibilities.

## Required attachments

- Firm Overview & Qualifications
- CAH/Rural Hospital RCA References
- Sample Assessment Report
- Sample Prioritized Roadmap & Business Case
- Outcome Evidence
- Functional Scope Statement (domain confirmation)
- Root Cause Methodology Description (frameworks & approach)
- Data Request List & Data Handling Approach
- Named Consultant Bios & EHR/CAH Experience
- Engagement Team Structure & On-Site Plan
- Hospital Staff Time Estimate (role-by-role)
- Multi-Hospital Staggering Plan
- Engagement Timeline/Milestones
- Per-Hospital Deliverables List
- Collaborative Deliverables Description
- Data Ownership Confirmation Statement
- Itemized Budget Table (by phase/role/hospital)
- Hourly Rates by Role (for extra work/optional tasks)
- Travel/Accommodation Cost Estimate and Plan
- Volume/Collaborative Pricing Structure
- Invoicing Approach and Terms

## Application package and source documents

- [WA - 2026 - Revenue Cycle Assessment RFP Scope](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/c505cea1-dbda-494d-a84b-3d863e6f9e80/file) (primary) — official: https://ruralcollaborative.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TRC_RCA_Scope_Outline-FINAL.pdf

More Washington RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/wa (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/wa.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/request-for-proposals-revenue-cycle-assessment-for-the-rural-collaborative-wa-ru--69ebe74a11 — data as of 2026-09-10.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.