access- Year-one award
- $203,404,327
- Lead agency
- Dept. of Economic and Community Affairs
- Maternal care in the plan
- Puts a dollar figure on maternal care
- Status
- Closed, awards pending
What Alabama's plan funds for maternal care
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs runs the program, which received $203.4 million for year one. Its project narrative names the "Maternal and Fetal Health Initiative – Obstetric Digital Regionalization Initiative," which "addresses the maternal and fetal health crisis impacting rural Alabama due to the closure of multiple L & D units at rural facilities." The design connects rural facilities "to regional care hubs that can provide those services via digital maternity care platforms and by using telerobotic ultrasound devices," and stocks emergency L&D carts so rural sites can give "lifesaving care and stabilization for mothers and newborn babies until they reach an appropriate hospital setting." The program manual, revised September 11, 2026, describes the work as "connecting rural healthcare providers and facilities with regional maternal-fetal medicine resources through digital maternity care platforms," with participants that "may include rural hospitals, obstetrician providers, regional specialty centers, and public health entities."
Maternal work also turned up in the state's other initiatives. The August 24 awards included $3.8 million to Cullman Regional Medical Center for a family medicine residency with a focused obstetrics track, $430,304 to Cahaba Medical Care Foundation for rural obstetric training at four Alabama hospitals, $2.41 million to Hale County Hospital to strengthen emergency and maternal care, and two awards to Infirmary Health: $386,000 for a rural women's health hub in southwest Alabama and $1.12 million for preventive, prenatal, postpartum and specialty-connected care.
What is open, and what comes next
The year-one notice made about $6.1 million available (the narrative's year-one figure was $7.1 million; the state hasn't explained the difference). It closed August 7, 2026, and told applicants to expect awards about three to four weeks after the deadline, with performance through July 31, 2027. Two strategies were funded: network infrastructure for regional maternal and fetal referral hubs, and telerobotic ultrasound deployment. When the state announced 138 grants in five other initiatives on August 24, it said "Grant awards for additional initiatives are in process and will be announced at a later date." As of September 30, no maternal awards had been posted. The state's site says year-one application periods are closed and will reopen for year two.
Who can apply, and where a partner fits
Hospitals, critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, rural health clinics, FQHCs, health systems and healthcare organizations were eligible, and the state's FAQ said a facility didn't need existing OB services to apply. A telehealth practice takes part as the maternal-fetal medicine resource a hub or a rural facility names in its application: the reading physicians behind the ultrasound devices, and the consult coverage behind the platform.
Where Ouma fits
How tele-MFM fits Alabama's model
Alabama's initiative describes both halves of Ouma's service in its own words: rural sites acquire images and connect to maternal-fetal medicine resources by telehealth. Telerobotic ultrasound produces studies, and someone has to read them and take the consult. Ouma provides contracted maternal-fetal medicine coverage and ultrasound interpretation to rural and critical access hospitals, and can be that resource for a regional hub or a rural facility, including one that doesn't deliver babies. A pregnant patient in distress often stops at the nearest emergency department whatever services it offers, and Ouma's physicians take those consult calls at any hour. Ouma is licensed to practice in all 50 states.
See every state's plan side by side or what a partner letter for an application looks like.
Frequently asked questions
Can a hospital without a labor and delivery unit apply?
Yes. The state's FAQ for the maternal round said a facility didn't need existing OB services to be eligible.
When will Alabama's maternal awards be announced?
The notice said about three to four weeks after the August 7 deadline. As of September 30, 2026, they hadn't been announced. Watch the ADECA newsroom and alabamarhtp.com.