Indiana

This announcement highlights ongoing work in maternity care innovation as part of California's Rural Health Transformation Program. It is informational in nature and does not specify awards or funding opportunities. The program addresses maternal health needs in rural California.

This announcement highlights recent developments relevant to Indiana, including VIA Christi Hospital in Manhattan joining a Kansas advancement program and publication of new data from the University of Pennsylvania on managed care and Rural Health Transformation Program projected scores and actual awards. No new awards or solicitations for Indiana are announced in this document.

The Indiana RHTP Initiative 11 focuses on strengthening the rural behavioral health workforce by recruiting and training high school students, providing employer grants, and expanding peer support and crisis response capabilities. Several pathways are available, including Rural Healthcare Academies and statewide workshops. Collaboration with other initiatives is underway, and employer grants are being developed to directly boost recruitment and retention.

Indiana issued award recommendations related to its Rural Health Transformation Program, including program evaluation and a telehealth landscape assessment. No specific awardees or dollar amounts are listed. These steps demonstrate ongoing program implementation activities. Event schedule: - Award Recommendation (RHTP Program Evaluator) - 06/26/2026 - Award Recommendation (RHTP07 Teleconsult and Telehealth Assessment) - 06/03/2026

CMS awarded Indiana approximately $207 million for the first year of the five-year RHTP to improve rural health outcomes. The program emphasizes workforce development, telehealth expansion, regional collaboration, and improved access to care for rural Hoosiers.

Indiana FSSA seeks a contractor to maintain and consolidate IT systems underpinning Medicaid waiver and non-waiver programs serving the aging and disabled population. The SOW details responsibilities for operations, enhancement, reporting, compliance, and further system amalgamation linked to a statewide Waiver Reset initiative. System consolidation aims to improve efficiency, data quality, user experience, and alignment with person-centered care, supporting both state and federally-funded programs. Event schedule: - Monthly SLA Report Due - Quarterly Performance Report Due - Annual Summary Report Due - Project Kick Off Meeting - Turnover Plan development begins (6 months prior to end of base contract or extension) - Transfer of documentation and components to State (4 months prior to end of contract or extension) - State staff training completion (2 months prior to end of contract) - State’s turnover of services to new contractor (2 months prior to end of contract)

Public Policy Associates LLC has been recommended as the Program Evaluator for Indiana's RHTP, pending contract finalization. This notice is a conditional award recommendation. Formal contract and final funding are pending negotiation and execution. Key contacts: Mike Huth jonhuth@idoa.IN.gov Event schedule: - Preliminary Award Recommendation Date - 06/26/2026 - ET - Indiana Government Center South

Indiana seeks a qualified EQRO to review and report on Medicaid managed care quality, especially for programs serving rural Medicaid, over a 4-year contract via RFP 26-87847. No awards have been made yet; this is an open procurement process. The RFP details requirements on proposal content, forms, evaluation criteria, and compliance. Key contacts: Kristine Kruger Event schedule: - Welcome Welcome Pre-proposal Meeting th , 2026 - July 30 - --- Slide 2 ---

Indiana is soliciting a contractor to conduct a Medicaid Alternate Payment Model Feasibility Study as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Initiative 1. This initiative was enabled by a $207 million first-year RHTP federal award announced in December 2026. The study will assess the viability of models such as rural ACOs and bundled payments to improve care coordination and financial incentives in rural Medicaid. Key contacts: Mike Huth Event schedule: - Proposal Due Date - 07/06/2026 - 3:00:00PM EST - Bid package downloadable via Indiana Supplier Portal event link - Contact - Mike Huth - 00061

Initiative 7 focuses on expanding specialty provider access in rural Indiana through a secure teleconsult system, emphasizing high-need specialties like psychiatry and behavioral health. The program addresses credentialing, payment incentives, and optimizes provider availability with AI and partnerships, building a scalable network. The telemedicine steering committee is currently in the planning phase, with objectives aimed at strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure.

Indiana's Initiative 3 focuses on advancing rural health outcomes through an upgraded health information exchange, supporting comprehensive data sharing and care integration. EMS collaboration and technology enhancements are central to closing gaps for rural populations. The strategy emphasizes improved patient safety, less duplication, and better health information flow.

Initiative 2 of Indiana RHTP enhances community connections for rural residents by integrating Indiana 211 with health provider systems, offering streamlined access to resource referrals, and supporting care coordination. The program leverages technology—including analytics and AI—to identify service gaps in rural areas. These efforts aim to reduce barriers, improve outcomes, and help rural providers efficiently connect patients with essential services.

Initiative 9 of Indiana's RHTP focuses on expanding and retaining the rural health paraprofessional workforce, including LPNs, CNAs, EMTs, MedTechs, and Community Health Workers. The program establishes Rural Healthcare Academies offering summer programs for high school students to learn about health careers and supports employers with recruitment and retention. Planning and proposal reviews are currently in progress.

This initiative aims to ensure rural patients can receive all prescribed medications before leaving the hospital, reducing the need for a separate pharmacy trip. Medications are provided at outpatient prices, and bedside counseling is offered to improve adherence and recovery. The project supports hospitals in developing programs and may include partnerships with community retail pharmacies. Event schedule: - Year 1 Grant Agreements Execution - July 2026 - Statewide workgroup launch - July 2026

Initiative 4 focuses on improving readiness for pediatric and obstetric emergencies in rural Indiana through needs assessments, training, equipment, and technical assistance. Rural hospitals and pre-hospital EMS providers will be evaluated to identify and address readiness gaps. The collaborative effort aims to ensure safer and more effective care for mothers and children in rural emergency departments.

Indiana received over $206 million in federal RHTP funding to implement 12 statewide initiatives plus the GROW Regional Grants supporting rural health transformation. The initiatives address care coordination, EMS, interoperability, workforce, training, chronic disease, telehealth, and community-driven regional solutions. Funding is 100% federal (CMS/HHS), with key awards, network development, and technical assistance arrangements in place for FY2026.

Indiana is launching a multi-year Rural Healthcare Academy initiative targeting rural high school students to address persistent workforce shortages. Academies will deliver summer programming in all RHTP regions, engage multiple partners, and track metrics such as enrollment, completion rate, and pipeline outcomes. The strategy supports the RHTP's workforce development goals and includes ongoing evaluation through FY31.

The first year of the Indiana PathWays for Aging program (launched July 1, 2024) transitioned over 116,700 individuals to managed care, aiming to support aging Hoosiers with individualized services that emphasize independence. This 2025 annual EQR technical report reviews program quality, timeliness, accessibility, and network adequacy across all three MCEs, identifies improvement areas, and establishes strategic objectives in line with Indiana Medicaid’s quality aims. Emphasis areas include behavioral health integration, chronic disease management, oral health, and care coordination. Key contacts: Jazzmin Kennedy; Jill Edmondson; Christa Thompson; Frances Richardson Event schedule: - Validation of Network Adequacy – Geographic Network Adequacy - 2025-07-01 - America/Indiana/Indianapolis - Indiana - Validation of Network Adequacy – Member-to-Provider Ratio Analysis - 2025-07-01 - America/Indiana/Indianapolis - Indiana - Secret Shopper Survey - 2025-07-01 - America/Indiana/Indianapolis - Indiana - Validation of Performance Improvement Projects - 2024-07-01 - America/Indiana/Indianapolis - Indiana - Validation of Performance Measures - 2024-07-01 - America/Indiana/Indianapolis - Indiana - External Encounter Data Quality Review - 2024-10-01 - America/Indiana/Indianapolis - Indiana

This guidance document outlines requirements and prohibitions for recipients of RHTP funding, including federal monitoring, HIT interoperability standards, privacy and security safeguards, salary rate limits, and specific prohibitions on use of funds for construction, lobbying, clinician salaries, and certain provider payments. Recipients must comply with referenced federal regulations and cybersecurity standards if handling sensitive data. Provisions also address allowable renovations and project income.