State releases RFP for program growing healthcare workforce

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Health Care Authority is seeking proposals from organizations to help manage Rooted in New Mexico, a new workforce initiative under the Rural Health Transformation Program. 

Rooted in New Mexico will help recruit, train, and retain health care workers in rural, frontier, and Tribal communities. The program will expand health career pathways, rural training opportunities, clinical learning sites, and efforts to support workers who choose to serve rural communities. 

“Rural communities need a strong health care workforce, but each part of New Mexico faces different barriers to recruiting and keeping health care professionals,” said Elisa Wrede, Acting Rural Health Director. “Rooted in New Mexico will bring partners together and invest in workforce solutions that meet the needs of rural, frontier and Tribal communities.” 

The Health Care Authority’s request for proposals includes two award areas: 

• Domain 1: Workforce Development – will support statewide planning, partnerships, workforce funding opportunities, provider incentives, training sites, technical assistance, and program monitoring. 
• Domain 2: Graduate Medical Education – will support rural residency programs, training sites, faculty and preceptors, and the possible creation of a statewide graduate medical education network. 

Organizations may apply for one or both domains. 

HCA expects to make up to $4.5 million available for Domain 1 and up to $2.5 million for Domain 2. The program also includes up to $5 million for provider incentives and up to $10 million to improve medical education and training sites. All funding is subject to HCA approval and both state and federal requirements. 

Program activities may include clinical rotations, apprenticeships, career pathways, residency programs, tele-supervision, mentoring, provider recruitment, and rural service commitments. 

Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Mountain Time on September 4, 2026. Applications must be submitted through HCA’s Rural Health Transformation Program application portal. 

More information is available at www.hca.nm.gov/rht/.