Mississippi Rural Health Transformation: BRIDGE Innovative Pilot Program
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) invites eligible providers and nonprofit organizations serving Mississippi’s rural residents to propose innovative, collaborative projects that improve rural healthcare access, coordination, prevention, behavioral health, maternal and child health, and population health. This is a distinct applicant-facing subaward, not a statewide procurement contract.
Funding and dates
Maximum individual award: $2,000,000 per entity. Each eligible entity may submit only one application. The statewide allocation under this particular NOFO is not stated as an applicant-level award. The application portal opens October 14, 2026 and submissions close November 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Questions requesting clarification must be emailed to the program by October 21, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. The state anticipates awards in January 2027 and Program Year 1 performance through July 31, 2027.
Applicant eligibility
Applicants must be Mississippi-based or primarily serve rural Mississippi residents, and be either a licensed healthcare provider or a nonprofit organization engaged in healthcare service delivery, public health, support, or care coordination. The NOFO includes rural hospitals and CAHs, nursing and post-acute care, RHCs, FQHCs and community health centers, behavioral health providers, EMS and first responders, qualifying community-based organizations, and providers serving children, families, and vulnerable populations. Applicants do not necessarily have to be physically located in a rural area but must demonstrate meaningful rural Mississippi benefit and qualified collaborations.
Allowable project purposes
Examples include integrated rural care partnerships, school-based physical and behavioral health partnerships, employer and healthcare workforce wellness, regional behavioral health collaboratives, food-as-medicine initiatives, maternal and child support, preventive and chronic-care access models, and community-designed programs addressing social determinants of health. The proposed project must align with at least one published NOFO objective and measurable results.
Important exclusions and financial restrictions
Telehealth, electronic health record systems, broadband infrastructure, new construction and major expansion are not allowable under this specific Innovative Pilot Program. Also excluded are lobbying, demolition, endowments, impermissible provider payments and other uses barred by the governing RHTP guidance. Indirect and administrative costs may not exceed 5% of the award amount. Grant funds must support new or expanded activities, not replace existing funding. Funds are generally reimbursed against documented allowable costs; limited advances require separate evidence and approval. Any technology or device expense must be checked against this NOFO rather than assumed allowable.
Application and award requirements
Applications are submitted through the official online portal with required PDF exhibits and a Microsoft Excel budget. Successful applicants will be MSDH subrecipients, subject to federal and state compliance, procurement, reporting and monitoring requirements. The approved project must be completed within the applicable Program Year 1 performance period. The funder requires selected awardees to possess or obtain UEI, FEIN and MAGIC Vendor Number and support the statewide HIE developed under the RHTP.
Controlling source: MSDH BRIDGE Innovative Pilot Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (October 2026). Applicants should check the official Mississippi RHTP funding page for current FAQs, amendments, application form, and submission portal instructions.