Rural Health Transformation Program - Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning
About the Program
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a federal initiative that empowers states to strengthen healthcare in rural communities across the country by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes. It is administered by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and authorized under H.R. 1 of 2025 (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21).
In Maryland, this program is led by the State Office of Rural Health within the Maryland Department of Health. It is funded in full by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a financial assistance award totaling more than $168 million. The Maryland Department of Labor received $20.1 million of these funds to support Pathways to Health Careers ($3.7 million) and the Rural Incentives for Strengthening Employment in Healthcare (RISE) ($16.4 million). The purpose of these investments is to bolster and retain healthcare professionals who intend to build careers, lives and families in rural Maryland.
Pathways to Health Careers
MD Labor launched Pathways to Health Careers to quickly deploy and expand effective workforce development activities in rural Maryland. Successful applicants will submit proposals to implement high-impact interventions aligned with the goals of the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Eligible entities include:
- Local Workforce Development Boards
- Local Health Departments
- Hospital Organizations/Employers
- Institutions of Higher Education
- Training Providers
- Local Education Agencies
- Industry Associations
- Registered Apprenticeship Sponsors
- Local and Regional economic development entities
- Other organizations as deemed allowable by MD Labor
Under this pathway, eligible applicants have the opportunity to apply for one or both of the following projects:
- Rural Healthcare Registered Apprenticeship Intermediaries: Expands healthcare apprenticeships in rural areas via qualified intermediaries.
- Total funding: $2,000,000
- Maximum award amount: $400,000
- Target occupations:
- Central Sterile Processing Technician
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technician
- Radiation Technologist
- Cardiovascular Technician
- Surgical Technician
- Behavioral Health Technicians
- Patient Care Technician
- Community Health workers
- Certified Nursing Assistants
- Certified Peer Recovery Specialists
- Alcohol and Drug Counselors
- Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
- Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers - Allied Health (RAMP-AH): Expands the Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers program to include additional allied health occupations.
- Total funding: $1,700,000
- Maximum award amount: $200,000
- Target Occupations:
- Community Health Workers
- Certified Nursing Assistants
- Patient Navigators
- Psychiatric Aides and Technicians
- Direct Support Professionals
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides
- Certified Peer Recovery Specialists
Rural Incentives for Strengthening Employment in Healthcare (RISE)
Growing Maryland’s existing rural healthcare workforce starts with investing in the dedicated professionals already serving these communities. Rural Incentives for Strengthening Employment in Healthcare (RISE) Program will deploy resources to projects dedicated to the transformation of Maryland’s rural communities by establishing a sustainable workforce ecosystem, with a framework to bolster and retain mid-level and advanced practice professionals currently residing in rural Maryland. By providing accessible continuing education, advanced certifications, and incentivizing localized residency programs, RISE will help rural clinicians expand their skills and advance their careers without leaving home. Upskilling current staff not only improves patient care, but also strengthens local retention and prevents burnout in underserved areas.
MD Labor will fund projects aimed at improving access to high quality innovation in healthcare delivery across 18 State-designated rural counties.
Eligible entities include:
- Local Workforce Development Boards
- Local Health Departments
- Hospital Organizations/Employers
- Institutions of higher education
- Training Providers
- Local Education Agencies/Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs
- Industry Associations
- Registered Apprenticeship Sponsors
- Local and regional economic development entities
- Other organizations as deemed allowable by MD Labor
Under this pathway, eligible applicants have the opportunity to apply for one or both of the following projects:
- Rural Health Talent Pipelines: Supports allied health, administrative, and healthcare information technology career pathways from K–12 through incumbent worker upskilling.
- Total competitive funding available: up to $7,500,000
- Award minimum: $250,000
- Award maximum: $500,000
- Target Occupations:
- Central Processing Technician
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technician
- Radiation Technologist
- Cardiovascular Technician
- Surgical Technician
- Patient Care Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
- Behavioral Health Technician
- Alcohol and Drug Trainee
- Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
- Dental Assistants
- Healthcare Administration
- Health Information Technology (HIT) careers
- Rural Health Advanced Provider Pathways: Bolsters training, recruitment, and retention for a wide range of clinical healthcare practitioners.
- Total competitive funding available: up to $7,500,000
- Maximum award amount: $500,000
- Target occupations:
- Registered Nurses
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Dentists
- CMS Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
- CMS NOFO - Frequently Asked Questions
- Maryland Notice of Award Terms and Conditions
- CMS RHTP Frequently Asked Questions—April 2026
Application Process
Grants are awarded through a competitive solicitation process. In order to receive the application materials, applicants must submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by Friday, August 7.
2026 Application Timeline:
- Solicitation opens: Friday, July 10, 2026
- Virtual Pre-proposal Conference: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
- To register, see our meeting registration form.
- Deadline to submit questions about the application: Friday, July 24, 2026
- Send questions to [email protected]
- Notice of Intent to Apply Due: Friday, August 7 by 1:00 p.m.
- To submit your intent to apply and receive all application materials, see our Google Form.
- Proposals Due: Sunday, August 9, 2026 by 11:59 p.m.
- Notification of Awards: September 2026
Funding Availability
- Period of Performance: September 1, 2026 - September 30, 2027
Application Resources
- Pathways to Health Careers - Policy (PDF)
- Preview the Application Questions for Pathways to Health Careers
- Rural Incentives for Strengthening Employment in Healthcare - Policy (PDF)
- Preview the Application Questions for RISE
- Notice of Intent to Apply (Google Form)
Program contact
Casey Tiefenwerth[email protected]
Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning
Maryland Department of Labor
Funding Statement: The Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $168,180,837.61 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.