Mississippi

Mississippi was awarded $205.9M through the Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen rural healthcare by expanding access, improving workforce, modernizing infrastructure, and care coordination with a major contractual budget for future initiatives. Reporting restrictions on contractual funding were lifted upon submission of sufficient details. Specific subrecipient funding will be determined upon future selection and CMS review. Key contacts: Kristen Windham Kristen.Windham@govreeves.ms.gov; Anne Hall Brashier annehall.brashier@govreeves.ms.gov; Chris Clark christopher.clark@cms.hhs.gov; Jacqueline Higgins jacqueline.higgins1@cms.hhs.gov Event schedule: - Federal Award Date - 04/20/2026 - Budget Period Start - 12/29/2025 - Budget Period End - 10/30/2026 - Period of Performance End - 10/30/2030

The award supports workforce development via training and technical assistance to expand person-centered systems of care for Medicaid Home and Community Based Programs in Mississippi. The contract covers a two-year period and totals $559,902. Event schedule: - Contract Period Start - 02/03/2023 - Mississippi - Contract Period End - 02/02/2025 - Mississippi

Mississippi Division of Medicaid awarded a contract to Horne LLP for up to $150,000 to provide consultation services preparing the application for the Rural Health Transformation Program. The contract period is from August 12 to December 31, 2025. Event schedule: - Contract Period Start - 08/12/2025 - CT - Mississippi Division of Medicaid - Contract Period End - 12/31/2025 - CT - Mississippi Division of Medicaid

This solicitation seeks vendor proposals for the Mississippi State Department of Health's Comprehensive State Health Plan, with a focus on rural health transformation, population health, healthcare infrastructure, workforce, and CON modernization. The RFP clarifies the scope, contract term, stakeholder engagement expectations, and guidance for proposal submissions, but does not specify a budget range. Vendor engagement across diverse sectors and rigorous scoping of analysis depth are emphasized. Key contacts: Dorthy Young Event schedule: - RFP Response Deadline - 06/04/2026 - 2:00 PM CT - OpenGov portal - Contract Start Date - 07/02/2026 - Contract End Date - 09/30/2027

The program will launch its first phase of funding opportunities in mid-2026 targeting capital projects, technology improvements, and telehealth enhancements. It includes straightforward application procedures to encourage participation and plans multiple funding streams, including future efforts focused on psychiatric emergency services and innovative care models. Event schedule: - Pearl Outreach Meeting - June 4, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. CT - Pearl Community Center, Community Room, 2420 Old Brandon Road, Pearl MS 39208 - Ellisville Outreach Meeting - June 5, 2026 - 9:30 a.m. CT - Jones College, Home and Health Auditorium, 36 Bush Avenue, Ellisville MS 39437 - Summit Outreach Meeting - June 5, 2026 - 2:30 p.m. CT - Southwest Community College, Student Union, 1156 College Drive, Summit MS 39666 - Tupelo Outreach Meeting - June 9, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. CT - Itawamba Community College, Room 509, 3200 Adams Farm Road, Belden MS 38826 - Cleveland Outreach Meeting - June 10, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. CT - Cotton House Hotel, 215 Cotton Row, Cleveland MS 38732 - Funding Information Release - June 1, 2026 - Application Portal Opens - June 15, 2026 - Application Portal Closes - July 15, 2026

This summary aggregates FY26 proposed RHTP transformation plans for multiple states, as submitted to CMS. All states propose major rural health investments including digital and telehealth infrastructure, workforce pipeline expansion, integrated care models, and targeted initiatives for maternal health, chronic disease, and behavioral health. Each state is assigned a proposed RHTP funding amount, but recipient sub-awards are not named in this CMS summary.

Mississippi Medicaid's Hospital Access Program QIPP will allocate $832M for hospital quality incentives in FY2025, including a $43.5M value-based payment carve-out. Key priorities include improvement in maternal, mental, and metabolic health, as well as expansion of value-based payments. Hospitals meeting quality improvement thresholds will receive additional VBP funding after final review.

This Methodology Supplement outlines the Mississippi QIPP PPC approach to incentivizing quality improvement in Medicaid inpatient care. Statewide PPC performance for fiscal years 2019–2020 showed a weighted actual-to-expected ratio of 1.10, prompting targeted corrective action plans for underperforming hospitals. Incentives and penalties are based on hospital attainment and improvement of PPC performance, with a focus on reducing costly complications such as septicemia.

Mississippi Division of Medicaid has been awarded $205 million for the first year of a five-year Rural Health Transformation Program. The program supports six major initiatives, including statewide rural health assessment, network and workforce development, health technology modernization, telehealth, and infrastructure building. This is part of a larger $50 billion federal investment aimed at supporting sustainable rural healthcare statewide. Key contacts: Jennifer Wentworth Event schedule: - , 2026 - May 6 - Agenda - •Program Launch: SFY , 2024 - July 1 - •Objective: Incentivize high value care - , 2023, through June 30, 2024 (based on paid date) - July 1 - •Interim payments reconciled in May 2027 to actual encounters - for rating period, , 2025 - June 30, 2026 (based on service - July 1 - date) - Contract end: , 2025 - June 30 - United Healthcare 1-800-557-9933

Mississippi Division of Medicaid lists a consulting contract specifically for the Rural Health Transformation Program. Although no financial or milestone details are given, this contract demonstrates active work on RHTP priorities in Mississippi.

Mississippi QIPP will direct $50 million for value-based payments to hospitals, incentivizing quality and outcome improvements for Medicaid beneficiaries—including rural facilities. Payments are tied to performance in reducing potentially preventable hospital returns (PPHR), inpatient complications (PPC), and ambulatory complications (AM-PPC), with rigorous reporting and corrective action plan requirements. Notable emphasis on maternal health with the new MOMS initiative launching in SFY 2026.

The WEI focuses on recruiting, training, and retaining healthcare providers and support staff in rural areas, including physicians, nurses, EMS, behavioral health, dental, pharmacy, and critical support roles. The program supports coordinated efforts such as workforce recruitment and retention incentives, residency program expansions, preceptor support, healthcare career pathways in high schools, and 'earn while you learn' opportunities. Funding requires a minimum 5-year service commitment and aligns with Mississippi’s approved Rural Health Transformation Plan.

The HTAM initiative aims to upgrade outdated systems, strengthen cybersecurity, expand telehealth, and enable interoperable health information exchange across rural providers. It offers technology grants, EHR replacement for small providers, cybersecurity enhancements, and support for statewide HIE development. Funding is aligned with the state's approved RHTP and designed to build sustainable infrastructure.

Multiple Mississippi hospitals are attesting to collaborate and participate in a statewide Health Information Network for Medicaid data reporting. The HIN initiative is intended to improve admission, discharge, and transfer data exchange for Medicaid beneficiaries, as a requirement in the SFY 2022 plan. The document serves to certify hospitals' capability and intent to support statewide HIN implementation.

Mississippi is soliciting proposals for development of a Comprehensive State Health Plan, with an explicit requirement for a rural health system assessment and alignment with CMS and federal objectives. The scope includes data-driven health and systems assessment, integration of statutory requirements including Certificate of Need, stakeholder engagement, and preparation of a final statewide health planning document. The plan is intended to guide future health investment and inform state and federal policy decisions. Key contacts: Dorthy Young procurement@msdh.ms.gov Event schedule: - RFP Issue Date - 05/08/2026 - CT - Questions and Requests for Clarification Deadline - 05/15/2026 - 10:00 AM CT - Proposal Package Submission Deadline - 06/04/2026 - 2:00 PM CT - Proposal Opening - 06/04/2026 - 2:00 PM CT - Notice of Intent to Award - 06/09/2026 - 3:00 PM CT - Anticipated Contract Effective Date / Services Begin - 07/02/2026 - 3:00 PM CT - Proposal Submission Deadline - 2026-06-04 - 14:00 CST - Agency's OpenGov Procurement portal

CRIS brings together EMS, hospitals, public health agencies, and community organizations within Regional Healthcare Districts to coordinate care and share data. The program focuses on regional EMS coordination, EMS treat-in-place pilots, post-discharge care coordination, 24/7 nurse navigation, AI decision support for EMS, and connecting patients to social services. Funding opportunities will support system-level improvements aligned with the state's Rural Health Transformation Plan. Key contacts: Info@MississippiRHTP.com

The program focuses on expanding access to critical and specialized services, closing care gaps, supporting innovative pilot programs, and improving behavioral health crisis responses. BRIDGE funds renovations, equipment, behavioral health recruitment, and pilot programs including care coordination, value-based care, and specialty court models. Notices of Funding Opportunities will be released soon outlining eligibility and funding details. Key contacts: Info@MississippiRHTP.com

CMS approved Mississippi's state directed payment proposal, authorizing up to $1.51 billion for percentage increases and performance improvement payments to rural and other hospitals for inpatient, outpatient, and rural emergency services. This award is incorporated in Medicaid managed care capitation rates for fiscal year 2025-2026. No recipient sub-award details are provided; this is a total federal-state allocation.