# Maine — Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

Maine's Rural Health Transformation Program is being actively implemented by Maine DHHS and statewide partners with federal support, focusing on digital health, telehealth, workforce strengthening, and modernization of rural care delivery. The structured plan centers on five key strategic initiatives—population health, workforce development, care modernization, access expansion, and system sustainability—with milestone-based evaluation and coordinated stakeholder engagement. Current activities track progress against established initiatives and strategic goals to strengthen rural health outcomes and access across Maine. Current structured plan tracks 5 key initiatives and 9 strategic goals.

## At a glance

- Federal awards to date: $380,367,044.20 (Year 1 $190.0M + Year 2 $190.4M)
- Implementation phase (RCJ): IMPLEMENTING
- Funding opportunities tracked: 20 (2 open or announced, 18 closed)
- Awards recorded: $74.8M to 15 recipients
- Critical Access Hospitals: 11
- Rural population share: 64%

## Current progress

Maine continues active implementation of the Rural Health Transformation Program. Multiple RFAs and grants for digital health, telehealth, youth behavioral health, perinatal specialty consults, teledentistry, and nursing home telehealth are open, with application briefings and support sessions scheduled throughout Fall 2026. Application portals are live and eligible providers are actively encouraged to apply. MCD Global Health has been selected as a key subawardee to support these initiatives in collaboration with Maine DHHS. State opportunities: 2 active (1 open, 1 upcoming, 14 past/closed), $825.0K listed funding. Key opportunities: Maine RHTP Community Health Worker (CHW) Initiative RFA (Rural Community Health Worker Expansion); Maine Rural Health Transformation: Alternative Payment Model (APM) Transition; Youth Tele-Behavioral Health Program: Specialty Telehealth Service Provider(s). Strategy alignment: supports telehealth, care access priorities.

## CMS published status (State Data Maps)

- State Policy Action commitments: 0 of 19
- Initiatives (5), current CMS stage of each:
  - Access: Bridging the Healthcare Affordability Gap for Rural Mainers — Stage 2
  - Population Health: Promoting Timely Access to High-quality Care — Stage 2
  - Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems: Addressing Financial Instability of Rural Providers — Stage 2
  - Technology: Modernizing Rural Care Delivery with Digital Health Technology — Stage 2
  - Workforce: Strengthening Maine's Rural Health Workforce — Stage 2
- CMS data captured 2026-11-11, last confirmed 2026-11-11

## Open and announced opportunities

- [Maine RHTP Community Health Worker (CHW) Initiative RFA (Rural Community Health Worker Expansion)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/maine-rhtp-community-health-worker-chw-initiative-rfa-rural-community-health-wor--d19a52c641) — RFA; Open; due 2026-11-30; $110,000
- [Maine Rural Health Transformation: Alternative Payment Model (APM) Transition](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/maine-rural-health-transformation-alternative-payment-model-apm-transition--b2d49af925) — GRANT; Announced, not yet open

## Closed opportunities (18, most recent first)

- [Provider-to-Provider Specialty Consultations: Synchronous and Asynchronous Solutions - Primary Care Organizations](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/provider-to-provider-specialty-consultations-synchronous-and-asynchronous-soluti--a1cb412663) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-11-10; $15,000
- [Remote Patient Monitoring: Adult Chronic Disease and Perinatal - Home Health Agencies and Healthcare Organizations](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/remote-patient-monitoring-adult-chronic-disease-and-perinatal-home-health-agenci--68afd8988d) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-11-10; $15,000
- [Provider-to-Provider Specialty Consultations: Synchronous and Asynchronous Solutions - Specialty Telehealth Service Provider(s)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/provider-to-provider-specialty-consultations-synchronous-and-asynchronous-soluti--0960beec4f) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-11-07
- [Youth Tele-Behavioral Health Program: Partner Sites (Schools, School Districts, School Units and CBOs)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/youth-tele-behavioral-health-program-partner-sites-schools-school-districts-scho--b62b7ac836) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-11-07; $15,000
- [Remote Patient Monitoring: Adult Chronic Disease and Perinatal - RPM Provider(s)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/remote-patient-monitoring-adult-chronic-disease-and-perinatal-rpm-provider-s--6850312129) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-11-06
- [Nursing Home Telehealth – Nursing Facilities](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/nursing-home-telehealth-nursing-facilities--8abae071d5) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-11-03; $15,000
- [Nursing Home Telehealth – Specialty Telehealth Service Provider](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/nursing-home-telehealth-specialty-telehealth-service-provider--ddca2e1926) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-10-31
- [Teledentistry – Teledentistry Providers](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/teledentistry-teledentistry-providers--241fb4a81b) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-10-31
- [Automated Text Messaging: Chronic Conditions – Digital Health Provider](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/automated-text-messaging-chronic-conditions-digital-health-provider--09ab89101b) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-10-30
- [Maine Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) – Technology and Innovation Strategies: Virtual Quick Care](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/maine-rural-health-transformation-program-rhtp-technology-and-innovation-strateg--ef37aa2dfe) — OTHER; Closed; due 2026-10-29
- [Teledentistry - Schools, Primary Care-Based Oral Health Providers and Dental Practices](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/teledentistry-schools-primary-care-based-oral-health-providers-and-dental-practi--a7fddb13a9) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-10-26; $15,000
- [Perinatal Specialty Telehealth - Healthcare Organizations](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/perinatal-specialty-telehealth-healthcare-organizations--1e1d56e2af) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-10-23; $15,000
- [Youth Tele-Behavioral Health Program: Specialty Telehealth Service Provider(s)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/youth-tele-behavioral-health-program-specialty-telehealth-service-provider-s--783d8eb2a8) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-10-16; $500,000
- [Maine Healthcare Careers Exploration Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/maine-healthcare-careers-exploration-program--932df57d06) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-08-04; $125,000
- [EMR Modernization Provider Funding (Year 1)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/emr-modernization-provider-funding-year-1--f272717575) — NOFO; Closed
- [Maine Federal RHTP Award: Year 1 (FY 2026)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/maine-federal-rhtp-award-year-1-fy-2026--0ac236c661) — AWARD; Closed; $190.0M
- [Maine Federal RHTP Award: Year 2 (FY 2027)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/maine-federal-rhtp-award-year-2-fy-2027--6cfe7c7218) — AWARD; Closed; $190.4M
- [Maine Rural Hospital Efficiency Fund](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/maine-rural-hospital-efficiency-fund--c4a3fe5154) — AWARD; Closed; $30.0M

## Largest recorded awards

- EHR infrastructure in rural Maine — $30.0M (FY2026)
- 11 rural hospitals (names not listed) — $30.0M (FY2026-2027)
- Maine community health workforce and practice infrastructure — $12.0M (FY2026)
- Penobscot Community Health Care — $2.8M (FY2026)
- Cary Medical Center — amount not published (FY2026-2027)
- Houlton Regional Hospital — amount not published (FY2026-2027)
- MaineGeneral Medical Center – Alfond Center for Health — amount not published (FY2026-2027)
- MaineHealth Franklin Hospital — amount not published (FY2026-2027)
- MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital — amount not published (FY2026-2027)
- Millinocket Regional Hospital — amount not published (FY2026-2027)
- Mount Desert Island Hospital — amount not published (FY2026-2027)
- Northern Light AR Gould Hospital — amount not published (FY2026-2027)
- Northern Light CA Dean Hospital — amount not published (FY2026-2027)
- Northern Maine Medical Center — amount not published (FY2026-2027)
- Penobscot Valley Hospital — amount not published (FY2026-2027)

## Official sources RCJ monitors

- [ME DHHS News (all press releases)](https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/news)
- [ME MaineCare Provider Bulletins](https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/providers/provider-bulletins)
- [ME RHTP Primary](https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ruralhealth)
- [ME DOE Healthcare Careers Exploration Program](https://www1.maine.gov/doe/index.php/pathways/healthcareexplorations)
- [MCD Global Health (ME Tech & Innovation implementation partner)](https://www.mcd.org/focus-areas/maine-rural-health-transformation-program)
- [ME RHTP Wizehive Organization Opportunities](https://maine-rhtp-technology-innovation-funding-opportunities.wizehive.app/organization/opportunities)
- [ME RHTP Digital Health Projects (PSA + grant tracker)](https://mcd.org/focus-areas/maine-rhtp/digital-health)
- [ME Gov: RHTP Award Statement](https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-statement-rural-health-transformation-program-award-2025-12-29)
- [ME RHTP Plan Summary (Sep 2025)](https://www11.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/sites/maine.gov.dhhs.mecdc/files/documents/RHTP%20%20Maine%20RHTP_Summary_09-16-2025.pdf)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/me — data as of 2026-11-12.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.