PMC says two large RHTP proposals were deferred; several projects advanced to second-round review

PMC’s grant team told the board that seven proposals were submitted to Alaska’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), with mixed results and next steps for resubmission.

Katie Bryson, identified in the meeting packet as PMC’s grant writer and speaking to the board, said the two largest proposals — a new PMC facility design and a critical medical equipment purchase and training package — were not advanced for this round and were deferred for future consideration without detailed feedback. "Those were just deferred on to potentially future applications, and they're not giving any feedback on why they weren't funded," she said.

Bryson said one smaller planning proposal for maternal and early childhood health was advanced and is likely to receive a planning grant this summer. Four implementation projects — telehealth/behavioral health; a shared medical office with independent critical access hospital partners in Cordova and Homer; a home and community-based services expansion; and one other implementation project — were advanced to the second-application round. She said the state intends to fund up to about half of the projects that advance to that second competitive round.

Board members asked about timing and transparency. Staff said planning-project award notices were expected to begin in June and that the state had committed to publishing who was funded and in what amounts, though the timing of that transparency was not yet provided.

PMC staff said they plan to break the deferred large projects into smaller proposals for a 2027 application cycle and will reapply when the state reopens the program window.

No formal votes were taken; the board requested updates when award notices and state guidance become available.