# West Virginia Rural Health Transformation Program — Rural Health Link EMS Collaboratives: Alternative Destination Transportation Year 1 Grant

This competitive grant opportunity supports the establishment, expansion, and operationalization of county and multi-county EMS alternative destination transport programs statewide under the Rural Health Link initiative, part of West Virginia's Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Funded by a $2.7 million allocation, the program is designed to catalyze durable, collaborative EMS-led transport models that route low-acuity rural patients to clinically appropriate, lower-cost care settings—including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), primary care, urgent care clinics, behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment providers—rather than defaulting to emergency departments. The initiative prioritizes transformation, including new destination models, formal provider partnerships, clinical protocol development, technology integration, workflow redesign, and expansion to areas of greatest need. Activities are strictly intended to launch and support new care delivery approaches and must not duplicate any existing value-based initiatives or mandated programs. Applicants must demonstrate operational capacity to implement new models, readiness to adopt state-approved clinical protocols, ongoing training for EMS personnel and partners, coordinated data reporting meeting CMS and State requirements, and a sustainability and scale plan for post-award continuation. Applicants are required to either show existing provider partnerships or clear plans to establish MOUs or agreements within 30 days of award. Milestone-based funding will be released according to start-up, protocol approval, launch, ongoing operations, and sustainability planning achievements. Grantees must provide monthly and quarterly reports with detailed metrics—such as reductions in emergency department transports, improved care utilization, partnership development, and operational sustainability. Compliance with Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) requirements and robust data integration are mandatory. Non-compliance or failure to meet performance/milestone requirements may result in claw-back, termination, or reallocation of funds per State discretion. This opportunity is open to eligible applicants in all West Virginia counties and aligns with CMS-approved RHTP frameworks focused on improving access, quality, and sustainability in rural health.

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: RFA
- Issued by: West Virginia Department of Health (West Virginia)
- Posted: 2026-08-12
- Questions due: 2026-08-17
- Application due: 2026-08-26
- Funding: $2.7M
- Eligible applicants: EMS Agency, County EMS Authority, Healthcare System-affiliated EMS Provider, Volunteer Fire Department with EMS Squad, Emergency Response Organization
- How to apply: WVOASIS Vendor Self-Serve (VSS) Portal (https://www.wvoasis.gov)
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://prd311.wvoasis.gov/PRDVSS1X1ERP/Advantage4#solicitation=GFO-0506-2700000000067-2&attachment=RHL%20AFA%20-%20EMS%20Collaboratives%20Alternative%20Destination%20Transportation.pdf

## Eligibility

Eligible applicants include EMS agencies, county EMS authorities, healthcare system-affiliated EMS providers, Volunteer Fire Departments (VFDs) with EMS squads, and other organizations with demonstrated experience in emergency response coordination and clinical protocol implementation. Applicants must have operational capability to implement triage workflows, coordinate with receiving facilities, and support real-time data reporting and integration with State systems. Awards may go to one or multiple grantees, based on application quality and county coverage.

## Requirements

• Submit application through WVOASIS Vendor Self-Serve (VSS) Portal • Application Narrative addressing organizational capacity, project impact, feasibility/implementation, and sustainability • Detailed line-item budget and budget narrative • Grantee contact list (minimum two: Administrative/Financial lead, Program/Reporting lead) • County-Level Service Form with targeted counties and population served • Proof of registration with WV Secretary of State • Adherence to a 10% cap on administrative costs (including direct and indirect); supply negotiated indirect cost rate documentation if claimed • Provide Sustainability and Scale Plan for post-award continuation • Document existing or planned partnerships with alternative destination providers (MOUs or agreements within 30 days of award) • Comply with Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) requirements • Submit monthly and quarterly reports/dashboards as specified

## Required attachments

- Application Narrative
- Detailed Line-Item Budget (DLIB)
- Budget Narrative/Justification
- Grantee Contact List
- County-Level Service Form
- Documentation of partnership(s)/MOUs with alternative destination providers (if existing or within 30 days of award)
- Registration confirmation with WV Secretary of State
- Documentation for negotiated indirect cost rate if claimed

## Application package and source documents

- [WV - 2026 - Announcement of Funding Availability (AFA) RHT-AFA-08-12-2026-RHL1](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/1c0393cd-d6e1-4eb4-b3ac-129456de1b2a/file) (primary) — official: https://prd311.wvoasis.gov/PRDVSS1X1ERP/Advantage4#solicitation=GFO-0506-2700000000067-2&attachment=RHL%20AFA%20-%20EMS%20Collaboratives%20Alternative%20Destination%20Transportation.pdf
- [WV - 2026 - Upcoming RHT Funding Initiatives](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/3eab22d3-9afc-42c9-9180-d782926e3073/file) — official: https://health.wv.gov/sites/default/files/2026-07/Upcoming%20Funding%200714.png
- [WV - 2024 - West Virginia RHTP Solicitation Q&A Form: Rural Health Link - Public Transportation Collaboratives](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/07a80ade-927a-4abd-ac36-dddc3adfd912/file) — official: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQLQTedIWVfSHPAIlFOtV28nYbSdCOa0JLdvhEN23dQE99cw/viewform
- [WV - 2026 - West Virginia RHTP Solicitation Q&A Form: Rural Health Link - EMS Collaboratives (Solicitation Q&A submission form (EMS Collaboratives))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/273b56c6-81cc-4037-968d-a66809a74642/file) — official: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6HjjccI4aFIERJby4p2hvZIr6NUc8MWbP1HXgcBaPUAW5fA/viewform
- [WV - 2026 - Rural Health Tansformation Program 681-542-4971 (Final_GFO_0506_2700000000071_3_WV_ARFP_FORM)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/622209ab-5242-4edb-8c32-d194e5386cf4/file) — official: https://prd311.wvoasis.gov/PRDVSS1X1ERP/Advantage4#solicitation=GFO-0506-2700000000071-3&attachment=Final_GFO_0506_2700000000071_3_WV_ARFP_FORM.PDF
- [WV - 2026 - Rural Health Link (RHL) Initiative: Medical Transportation Capacity Expansion Funding Opportunity](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/fdeb0482-aef9-42ee-addf-0e6f6c164b82/file) — official: https://health.wv.gov/article/governor-morrisey-announces-more-23-million-funding-opportunity-expand-medical

More West Virginia RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/wv (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/wv.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/west-virginia-rural-health-transformation-program-rural-health-link-ems-collabor--0fbd4769bc — data as of 2026-09-02.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.