Plan Focuses on Expanding Access, Lowering Costs, and Growing Delaware’s Health Care Workforce
WILMINGTON — Governor Matt Meyer announced today that Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are now open for four initiatives under Delaware’s plan to overhaul health care in every community. The RFPs are part of the federal government’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a multi-year effort to expand access to care, lower costs, and increase the medical workforce, particularly in rural Kent and Sussex counties.
“A person’s zip code should never dictate the quality of care they receive –– or if health care services are even available,” said Governor Matt Meyer. “These RFPs are a critical step on our journey to expand access, lower costs, and grow our workforce, so that we can improve health outcomes in every community. I encourage any organization interested to apply and help deliver real health care solutions, especially for the nearly 40% of Delawareans who live in rural communities.”
All Requests for Proposals are available at bids.delaware.gov. Eligible organizations are encouraged to review RFPs and submit applications in accordance with posted timelines and requirements. The newly released RFPs represent the first competitive funding opportunities following Delaware’s successful federal Rural Health Transformation Program award and advance projects focused on access, prevention and chronic disease management, and workforce development. Additional RFPs are expected to be released in the spring.
Open Requests for Proposals:
Delaware Medical School: Competitive funding to support start-up costs for Delaware’s first four-year medical school, focused on building a sustainable pipeline of primary care physicians committed to rural practice.
School-Based Health Centers: Competitive funding to support new school-based health centers in rural elementary and middle schools, delivering physical, behavioral, and preventive health care services directly to students and families with four new centers with the goal of seeing 400 patients by year three.
Food Is Medicine: Competitive funding to establish sustainable Food Is Medicine infrastructure that integrates nutrition-based interventions into rural health care delivery, improving outcomes for residents managing chronic disease while supporting long-term reimbursement strategies.
Rural Community Health Hubs: Competitive funding for mobile health units and other community-based access points delivering preventive, chronic disease, behavioral health, and specialty services directly to rural communities with the goal of conducting 1,500 yearly encounters by year three.
“These initiatives are designed to build lasting capacity, not short-term fixes,” Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Cabinet Secretary Christen Linke Young said. “By aligning workforce development, prevention, and access strategies, Delaware is creating a health care system that can meet rural residents’ needs today and into the future.”
“We are eager to partner with experts for this once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Neil Hockstein, M.D. Chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission. “These initiatives are designed to improve care delivery while ensuring stability and access for years to come.”
Additional Rural Health Transformation Program RFPs will be released on a rolling basis. More information on Governor Meyer’s plan to overhaul rural health in Delaware can be found here.
These projects will be 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 $157.4 million 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.
BACKGROUND ON THE RHTP:
Congress appropriated a total of $50 billion to the Rural Health Transformation Program this summer to be distributed across five years — half of which will be “equally distributed” across states with an approved application, and the other half will be distributed based on technical factors and the quality of the application.
Governor Meyer’s application fulfilled a key promise from his first State of the State address: bringing a four-year medical school to Delaware, currently one of just three states that do not have a public or private in-state training institution.
The proposal also includes funding for two new Hope Center-style facilities, modeled after New Castle County’s successful integrated hub that combines health care, employment, and housing services under one roof. The new centers in Kent County and Sussex County will serve as one-stop destinations for stability, connecting families to the care, treatment, and support needed to live healthy, self-sufficient lives.
In addition, the plan prioritizes mobile health units and telehealth innovations to bring care directly to residents who face transportation barriers or live in remote areas. Mobile health pods and clinics will visit schools, libraries, churches, and town centers, while expanded telehealth access and remote monitoring programs will make it easier for patients to connect with health care providers anytime, anywhere.
Delaware will award the vast majority of these funds through a competitive application process, prioritizing vendors who demonstrate the strongest ability to deliver measurable results efficiently and cost-effectively.