Maine's Rural Health Transformation Program is organized around five officially-named strategic initiatives — Population Health, Workforce, Technology & Innovation, Access, and Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems — supported by an initial $190 million Year 1 federal investment. The program has launched its first provider funding opportunity, the EMR Modernization Provider Funding ($30M under Technology & Innovation), with additional funding rounds for the other initiatives pending as implementation advances. Current structured plan tracks 5 strategic initiatives aligned with population health, hospital finance, health IT/technology, workforce, and access/sustainability. Current structured plan tracks 7 key initiatives and 5 strategic goals.
ME - 2025 - Federal Budget Reconciliation Law Now in Effect: Impacts on MaineCare, SNAP & CoverME.gov | Department of Health and Human Services
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Current Progress
Implementing
Maine RHTP is actively implementing technology and innovation strategies, with recent $30 million EMR modernization funding announced. The first provider funding opportunity has been publicized and applicant eligibility details released. Open RFPs for digital health and AI providers are listed as coming soon, with partner site opportunities also forthcoming. Award distributions to providers have not yet started. State opportunities: 1 active (1 upcoming), $306.0K listed funding. Key opportunities: EMR Modernization Provider Funding (Year 1). Strategy alignment: supports telehealth priorities.
RHTP Strategy
Maine's Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) continues to implement a five-initiative model targeting Population Health, Workforce, Technology & Innovation, Access, and Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems. Investments are sequenced by initiative, with recalibration and stakeholder engagement each year. The initial provider funding opportunity remains focused on EMR modernization for rural hospitals and clinics, reinforced by a major $30 million investment launched in 2026 to advance health information technology and care coordination.
Model
Comprehensive five-initiative transformation model executed via sequential, activity-specific provider funding rounds, informed by community input and regional collaboration, with balanced annual investment across Initiatives and ongoing performance evaluation.
Key Initiatives
1Modernize rural providers' electronic medical record (EMR) systems and health information technology infrastructure, backed by a $30 million provider investment in 2026.
2Expand telehealth, create a Rural AI Innovation Hub, and enhance interoperability through health information exchange.
3Recruit, train, and retain rural health professionals with local talent pipelines, mobile simulation labs, and rural service commitments.
4Support community health worker and care team expansion to improve chronic disease management.
5Implement strategic provider payments and transportation/mobility solutions to improve rural access and affordability.
6Develop and expand alternative payment models and regional ecosystem planning.
7Offer tailored technical assistance and incentives for rural hospitals adopting value-based payment and operational improvements.
Timeline: Fiscal Years 2026–2030
Health Priority
Access to specialty care: Many rural Mainers face 2+ hour drives for specialty healthcare, which the program aims to address through telehealth and connected care solutions. (Regions: Aroostook, Washington County, Hancock)
Jul 15, 2026
Health Priority
Elderly population needs: Maine has the oldest population in the U.S., with 21.8% aged 65 or older, emphasizing the need for advanced remote monitoring and care coordination. (Regions: Statewide)
Jul 15, 2026
Health Priority
EMR modernization: Aging electronic record systems are being upgraded to ensure seamless transition of health information, reduce administrative burden, and enhance public health responsiveness. (Regions: Statewide)
Jul 15, 2026
ReferencePDF2025-2030Award: $190.0M
ME - 2025 - Maine Department Of Health And Human Services Notice Of Award RHTP 2025 Award Announcement
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PrimaryPDF2026Budget: $3.5B
ME - 2026 - CMS RHTP 50-State Spotlight (FY2026) — Maine
SupportingPDF2026-2030Award: $500.0M
ME - 2026 - Public Webinar Slides - Sept 2025 (PDF)
Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Grouped files
1 related document
Related documents1
PrimaryOTHER2026Award: $30.0M
ME - 2026 - Maine DHHS Announces $30 Million Investment
DHHS announcement (full text)
Announcement Documents (2)
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AnnouncementNEWJul 11, 2026TXT2026
Maine announced a $30 million investment to help health care providers modernize electronic medical records. This initiative is part of Maine's Rural Health Transformation Program and aims to strengthen health information technology infrastructure for rural hospitals and clinics. The investment supports improved care coordination and provider operations.
Event schedule:
- Announcement date - 07/10/2026
Award: $30.0MHEALTH_INFORMATION_TECHNOLOGY
Event Schedule
Announcement date - 07/10/2026
Core Initiatives
Modernize health information systems for rural providers
Support rural hospital sustainability
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AnnouncementJun 23, 2026TXT2026
The announcement features Senator Susan Collins urging CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz to support the implementation of a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, emphasizing the importance for Maine. No explicit award or application details are given.
Award Announcement Documents (2)
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Award AnnouncementNEWJul 11, 2026OTHER2026FederalOpportunity ↗
Reference: Maine Dhhs Announces 30 Million Investment Help Health Care Providers Modernize Electronic Medical 2026 07 10
Link: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/news/maine-dhhs-announces-30-million-investment-help-health-care-providers-modernize-electronic-medical-2026-07-10
This document summarizes Maine's anticipated participation in the new $50B Rural Health Transformation Program. Maine expects to apply for and receive approximately $500M over five years, pending application approval. The plan emphasizes expeditious deployment of funds through innovation, infrastructure, workforce, technology, and robust public engagement, to offset significant new losses from federal Medicaid cuts.
Award: $500.0MQUALITY_IMPROVEMENT · WORKFORCE · HEALTH_INFORMATION_TECHNOLOGY · OTHER
This document provides CMS high-level summaries for each state's FY26 Rural Health Transformation Program application. It describes overall funding amounts by state, statewide initiative highlights, spotlighted health priorities, and anticipated outcomes. No sub-grantee or specific recipient line items are presented; only state-level planning and application intent is covered.
Budget: $3.5B
Core Initiatives
Make Rural America Healthy Again
Expand access and improve outcomes
Support rural workforce development
Show all initiatives (42)
Make Rural America Healthy Again
Expand access and improve outcomes
Support rural workforce development
Increase adoption of health IT and telehealth
Advance value-based care
Build integrated and resilient rural health networks
Empower rural Mainers to achieve their own healthy living goals through expanded population health solutions
Expand the supply of care by growing a rural workforce and spreading technologies that connect every community to advanced care
Ensure care will be available and affordable long into Maine’s future by pairing affordability measures with strategies that advance quality, efficiency, and fiscal durability such as value-based payments
Transform the rural health workforce through new apprenticeships, improved IT, and expansion of Area Health Education Centers, and pipeline programs
Promote sustainable access and innovative care through new and expanded capacity for primary care, specialty practices, school-based health centers, and behavioral health expansion
Expand access to essential healthcare services for rural residents
Reduce hypertension and diabetes ED visits
Improve health and well-being through targeted initiatives and partnerships
Strengthen the full continuum of the healthcare workforce with targeted activities focused on workforce development, recruitment, and retention
Strengthen the foundation of rural health systems through integrated, community-driven solutions that expand access to care, modernize health information exchange, build workforce capacity, and address key community supports
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SummaryApr 15, 2026PDF2025
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SummaryApr 15, 2026PDF2025-2030
Maine’s RHTP strategy uses five pillars: population health, workforce, technology innovation, affordability and access, and financial sustainability for rural providers. The plan targets over 690,000 rural residents facing poor health status, provider shortages, and financial instability. Strategic initiatives include expanding telehealth, behavioral and maternal health, workforce pipelines, system-level financial supports, and cross-sector partnerships to bridge access, care quality, and sustainability gaps.
Data Documents (1)
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DataNEWJul 14, 2026HTML
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services is prioritizing rural health through a forthcoming application to the Rural Health Transformation Program. The announcement signals intent to modernize rural health care systems and strengthen access to services for Maine's rural population. Further details regarding program design and initiatives will be determined once the funding process progresses.
Event schedule:
- CoverME.gov's Fifth Annual Open Enrollment Begins - November 1 - 10/21/2025
Event Schedule
CoverME.gov's Fifth Annual Open Enrollment Begins - November 1 - 10/21/2025
Reference Documents (7)
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ReferenceNEWJul 14, 2026PDF2026
This statute mandates MaineCare to establish a transparent, rule-based system for Medicaid payment rates, including benchmarking, rate studies, and cost-of-living adjustments. It requires public schedules, feedback, and updates, overseen by an expert technical panel and advisory committee. It emphasizes efficiency, data-driven practices, and stakeholder inclusion. Key contacts: Maine Health Data Organization; Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance; Department of Professional and Financial Regulation; Department's Division of Licensing and Certification
Event schedule:
- Rule on cost-of-living adjustment methodology due - 07/01/2023
FINANCE · QUALITY_IMPROVEMENT
Event Schedule
Rule on cost-of-living adjustment methodology due - 07/01/2023
Contacts
Maine Health Data Organization - Panel representative - Statewide
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance - Panel representative - Statewide
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation - Panel representative - Statewide
Show all contacts (7)
Maine Health Data Organization - Panel representative - Statewide
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance - Panel representative - Statewide
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation - Panel representative - Statewide
Department's Division of Licensing and Certification - Panel representative - Statewide
Office of Affordable Health Care - Panel representative - Statewide
Department of Labor - Panel representative - Statewide
Department of Administrative and Financial Services - Panel representative - Statewide
Core Initiatives
Develop sustainable, efficient, and value-oriented payment models for MaineCare.
Establish equitable and data-driven rate-setting practices.
Ensure MaineCare rates are adequate to support member access and quality of care.
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ReferenceNEWJul 14, 2026HTML
Maine's RHTP focuses on bridging distance and improving health outcomes for rural residents by deploying digital health, AI, and infrastructure upgrades. Three primary strategies include Digital Health Projects (telehealth, remote monitoring), a Rural Health AI Hub, and EMR system modernization for rural providers. The program is supported by a $190 million federal CMS award and features active investments such as $30 million dedicated to EMR modernization. Key contacts: Communications Team communications@mcd.org
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ReferenceNEWJul 11, 2026PDFPast2026
Maine’s RHTP funds five Initiatives including workforce, payment models, EMR/EHR upgrades, and telehealth/AI innovation. Planning is complete; awards and eligibility are forthcoming. Focus areas include population health, hospital finance, HIT and workforce. Key contacts: RHTP.dhhs@maine.gov
Event schedule:
- RHTP Advisory Committee convened - May 2026 - Maine
- Public webinars - March 2026 - Maine DHHS/webinar
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ME - 2026 - diagnosis code list
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ME - 2026 - Maine.gov
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ME - 2026 - Senator Collins Attends Grand Opening of Millinocket Regional Hospital New Emergency Department
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Maine was awarded approximately $190M for its Year 1 RHTP transformation, as part of a new federal rural health program established by H.R. 1 and managed by CMS. Maine will implement five major initiatives addressing population health, workforce, technology, care access, and financial sustainability, with an emphasis on rapid contracting and community engagement. Contracts and subawards will be competitively bid, with key activities focused on expanding mobile health, telehealth, care delivery innovations, hospital and workforce sustainability, and mental health services.
Strengthen provider partnerships to expand services
Conduct a statewide assessment of rural health needs
Transform rural healthcare delivery across the State through a Coordinated Regional Integrated Systems Initiative
Strengthen the rural healthcare workforce through recruitment and retention strategies as well as training and career pathway development
Modernize rural healthcare systems by strengthening the digital backbone, increasing virtual care access, and helping providers utilize telehealth
Focus on access, outcomes, and financial issues
Launching innovative care delivery and payment models that support value-based care and expanding access
Build a statewide network of rural healthcare hubs to expand access to care, improve healthcare outcomes, strengthen coordinating networks, and empower rural communities to design and lead locally tailored health care solutions
Unify and standardize technology and data sharing across rural providers and convene multiple partners to deliver integrated care
Strengthen healthcare workforce, secure financial solvency for rural providers, embed prevention and community health at the center of care, and expand technology use
Focus on Make Rural America Healthy Again, workforce development, technology initiatives, and right-sizing the healthcare system
Make Rural Nevada Healthy Again by implementing value-based care models that prevent and manage chronic disease
Improve everyone’s quality of life through access to primary and preventative care, chronic disease management, maternal health care, behavioral health services, and oral health care
Improve healthcare availability in rural New Jersey by investing in primary and specialty providers and supporting CCBHCs
Transform healthcare access and quality in rural New Mexico through expanding specialty care access, chronic disease management, and workforce pipeline
Improve health outcomes through Make Rural America Healthy Again and primary care initiatives with focus on care coordination and preventive care
Catalyze innovative care models, transform the rural care experience, and create a sustainable rural healthcare delivery system via provider coordination and underlying systems change
Rebuild and retain rural health workforce through residencies, grow-your-own pipelines, recruitment and retention grants, and training
Prevent chronic disease, restore health, and reduce cost by launching Eat Well ND and ND Moves Together programs
Transform care models with new tech tools such as telehealth hubs, mobile clinics, and remote patient monitoring
Improve access to care through clinically integrated networks (CINs), community-based clinics in K-12 schools and college campuses, and mobile health care services, rural hospital improvements, and home visits.
Improve health outcomes through expansions of behavioral health services.
Improve chronic disease health outcomes such as reduced A1C and increased levels of hypertension management.
Expand technology to build remote monitoring and telehealth, expand electronic medical record (EMR) usage for pharmacists, and pilot innovative screening technologies for chronic management.
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.
Budget: $4.7B
Core Initiatives
Preserve statewide Medicaid and rural health access in face of federal policy changes
Minimize disenrollment and loss of coverage for rural, low-income, and vulnerable populations
Maintain financial stability for rural hospitals, safety-net providers, and state Medicaid/CHIP
Show all initiatives (4)
Preserve statewide Medicaid and rural health access in face of federal policy changes
Minimize disenrollment and loss of coverage for rural, low-income, and vulnerable populations
Maintain financial stability for rural hospitals, safety-net providers, and state Medicaid/CHIP
Uphold essential care and food security for all Maine people
RHTP Advisory Committee convened - May 2026 - Maine
Public webinars - March 2026 - Maine DHHS/webinar
Contacts
<RHTP.dhhs@maine.gov> - Program contact - Maine (statewide)
Core Initiatives
Advance rural population health and quality outcomes
Strengthen rural health workforce and service accessibility
Support rural hospital financial sustainability
Show all initiatives (4)
Advance rural population health and quality outcomes
Strengthen rural health workforce and service accessibility
Support rural hospital financial sustainability
Reduce non-financial barriers to rural care
L.D. 1253– An Act To Add a Faculty Member and Nonfaculty Staff Member to the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System (UMS) (PDF)
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Maine 12 FY 19/20 October 24, 2019 RHTP Document
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Executive Order 20: An Order Modifying Requirements Applicable to Family Child Care Providers in Order to Facilitate Employment of Persons Needed for the Treatment and Containment Of COVID-19 (PDF)
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ME - 2026 - code and rate list
2026-2027 · PDF
ME - 2026 - appendix
2026 · PDF
RHTP Engagement Events in October
2026 · PDF
ME - 2026 - present
2026 · PDF
ME - 2026 - FAQ
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ME - 2026 - present
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ME - 2026 - present
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ME - 2026 - Attention Trading Partners: What You Need to Know and Do Before MaineCare’s New Online Portal
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ME - 2026 - Section 97 Appendix C Residential Care Facilities (RCFs): New Rates Effective July 1, 2026
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ME - 2026 - Apply to Exhibit at the 2026 MaineCare Provider Conference
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ME - 2026 - Sections 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, and 40 - Therapeutic Interventions and Assistive Technology Services: Recommended Draft Rates, Presented Materials, and Comment Deadline
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ME - 2026 - Provider Relations Specialist
2025 · PDF
LD 1117, An Act To Prevent Excessive Prices for Prescription Drugs (PDF)
2021 · PDF
LD 675, An Act to Protect Maine Consumers from Unsupported Price Increases on Prescription Medications (PDF)
2021 · PDF
LD 554, An Act to Create Gaming Equity and Fairness for the Native American Tribes in Maine (PDF)
2021 · PDF
Primary Care Access Credit Program (PDF)
2021 · PDF
Primary Care Access Credit Program 2021 Annual Report (PDF)
2021 · PDF
Executive Order 14: An Order to Implement Phase 4 of the Restarting Maine's Economy Plan (PDF)
2020-2021 · PDF
Executive Order 7A: An Order Regarding Pre-K-12 Education and Suspending Certain Licensing Requirements Within Institutional Settings (PDF)
2020-2021 · PDF
Executive Order 9: An Order Amending Executive Orders 55 FY 19/20 AND 1 FY 20/21 (PDF)
2020-2021 · PDF
Executive Order 11: An Order Curtailing Allotments (PDF)
2020-2021 · PDF
Executive Order : An Order Amending Executive Order 10 FY 20/21 (PDF)
2020-2021 · PDF
Executive Order 16: An Order to Revise Indoor Gathering Limits, Strengthen Face Covering Requirements and Delegate Certain Authority (PDF)
2020-2021 · PDF
Executive Order 17: An Order Addressing Training Deadlines for Judicial Marshals (PDF)
2020-2021 · PDF
Executive Order 27-A: An Order Extending the Effectiveness of Certain Provisions of Maine's Emergency Covid-19 Response Statutes (PDF)
2020-2021 · PDF
Executive Order 41: An Order Establishing the Governor's Review of the Aerial Application of Herbicides for Forest Management (PDF)
2020-2021 · PDF
Executive Order 19: An Order Regarding Essential Businesses and Operations (PDF)
2020 · PDF
Executive Order 3: An Order Regarding Certain Mainecare Laws (PDF)
2020 · PDF
Executive Order 4: An Order Regarding Car Dealer Plates (PDF)
2020 · PDF
Executive Order 15: An Order Addressing Motor Vehicle Registration Requirements (PDF)
2020 · PDF
Executive Order 20: An Order Extending the Maine Bicentennial Commission's Terms (PDF)
2020 · PDF
Reduce Child Poverty by Leveraging Investments so Families can Thrive (PDF)
2020 · PDF
General Assistance Report and Cover Letter - Jan, 2020 (PDF)
2020 · PDF
Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, Tx Svs for Children Birth to 8 Years (LD 1635) Report Jan, 2020 (PDF)