Maine

This announcement invites MaineCare providers statewide to a collaborative conference focused on workforce, quality improvement, and innovative care models. The conference is supported by the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and is free to attend. Required participation applies for certain rural and behavioral health providers named in MaineCare policy. Event schedule: - 2026 MaineCare Provider Conference - October 27, 2026 - 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM ET - Augusta Civic Center, Community Drive, Augusta, ME - Registration, Poster Session, and Networking (begin) - October 27, 2026 - 8:00 AM ET - Augusta Civic Center, Community Drive, Augusta, ME

Event schedule: - Maine’s Rural Health Transformation Program , 2025 - September 18 - Agenda ❖ CMS background info ❖ Maine-specific info MEMBER-CENTERED DATA-DRIVEN INTEGRITY COLLABORATIVE TRANSPARENT INCLUSION 2

Northern Light Health in Maine received a $48 million award to upgrade electronic medical records. This funding supports major improvements in health information technology infrastructure for rural healthcare delivery.

The program offers up to four awards totaling $500,000, with individual awards up to $125,000. It aims to provide relevant high school instruction, postsecondary enrollment, and workforce development opportunities. The program is administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services in collaboration with the Maine Department of Education. Event schedule: - RFA Release - July 10, 2026 - Information Session - July 16, 2026 - 2:00 PM - Questions Due - July 23, 2026 - 4:00 PM - Applications Due - August 4, 2026 - 4:00 PM - Award Announcement - August 31, 2026

Maine's revised Year 1 RHTP budget outlines extensive personnel, technology, training, consultation, and sub-award costs across core initiatives including Workforce, Access, Sustainable Ecosystems, Technology & Innovation, and Population Health. Major investments support mobile simulation labs, CHW/paramedicine training, telehealth infrastructure, peer supports, hospital financial stabilization, and care access, with layered accountability for each initiative. No sub-recipient awards are announced in this narrative, as this is a planning and budget justification document. Event schedule: - Sustainable Ecosystems Initiatives Contracts - 2026-01-01 - Maine - Contracted Staff Sustainable Ecosystems Master Agreement - 2026-04-01 - Maine - Manatt Health Contract Amendment - 2026-01-01 - Maine - Providers Subgrants to Sub awards - 2026-10-01 - Maine - Milliman Contract Amendment - 2026-01-01 - Maine - Dental Provider Contract - 2026-04-01 - Maine - Gainwell Contract Amendment - 2026-01-01 - Maine - Facility Sub award - 2026-04-01 - Maine

The document outlines Maine's RHTP strategic initiatives including population health improvements, workforce strengthening, technology innovation with $30M allocated for EMR updates, and financial sustainability funding totaling $58.5M for at-risk rural hospitals and alternative payment model transitions. It emphasizes coordinated efforts to address key rural health priorities in 2026.

Sweeping federal Medicaid and SNAP reforms will substantially reduce coverage for rural, low-income, and immigrant Mainers while shifting financial risk to the state, rural hospitals, and safety-net providers. Rural counties see the highest Medicaid reliance and will be most impacted by work requirements, payment and tax changes, and loss of family planning and SNAP education funding. Maine faces a potential $5 billion Medicaid/SNAP reduction over 10 years.

Maine’s RHTP application proposes a coordinated, five-initiative strategy to bolster rural health care statewide. The plan leverages population health, workforce, technology, access, and financial sustainability components, shaped by robust statewide community input. With more than half of Maine’s population living in rural areas, the approach aims for resilient, modern, and culturally responsive systems that address Maine's most urgent rural health challenges.

Maine’s RHTP has demonstrated launch and early implementation across five core initiatives, including regional health ecosystems planning. Current status involves reviewing Year 2 applications and budgets, with CMS site visits scheduled and a notification of award expected by October 31, 2026. Event schedule: - CMS Site Visit - 09/09/2026 - CMS Site Visit - 09/10/2026 - Notification of Award (NOA) Target Date - 10/31/2026

Reference: 97 23694b08 3056 475e 9e53 37495914997e Link: https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/health/northern-light-health-receives-48m-dollars-electronic-medical-record-updates-maine/97-23694b08-3056-475e-9e53-37495914997e

Maine's RHTP is announcing a funding opportunity focused on youth tele-behavioral health under Project 2 subaward. The initiative supports a range of digital health interventions including telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and digital therapeutics to improve access to care in rural areas. Key contacts: communications@mcd.org Event schedule: - Application Due Date - 10/18/2026