access- Year-one award
- $233,509,359
- Lead agency
- Dept. of Public Health and Human Services
- Maternal care in the plan
- Names maternal care only as an outcome
- Status
- Not maternal yet
What Montana's plan says about maternal care
The Department of Public Health and Human Services runs the program, which received $233.5 million for year one, through five initiatives. Among its target populations the plan lists "individuals in rural areas who are considering pregnancy, are pregnant or have recently been pregnant, and children themselves, with an emphasis on maternal and infant health." Its expected outcomes include "maternal, infant, and child health, reducing under-five and perinatal mortality through expanded prenatal care, perinatal telehealth, and enhanced EMS."
The piece closest to maternal telehealth is Initiative 2.2: "The State will support the deployment of virtual interfacility specialty consultations to address shortages of critical specialists at rural hospitals and emergency departments through a hub-and-spoke model." The plan names tele-stroke, tele-ED and tele-cardiology; it doesn't name maternal-fetal medicine. It says telehealth platform access "will be offered through the Group Purchasing Organization (GPO)-facilitated vendor sourcing process" in a companion initiative.
What has been awarded, and what comes next
EMS equipment grants ($8.7 million; 78 agencies, per DPHHS) were awarded September 29, 2026. The state issued a notice of intent to award its Center of Excellence strategy and analytics contract to Deloitte Consulting on August 7; the contract's scope includes recommendations on restructuring service lines. Initiative 2.2 hasn't been solicited, and the state says it "plans to issue additional funding opportunities, including through RFPs, over the coming months."
Who can apply, and where a partner fits
The state's FAQ says "typical applicants include tribal nations, government agencies, health care providers, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other partners." Contracts go through the state's bid system and grants through Submittable. DPHHS also runs a Vendor and Subcontractor Directory that organizations can join to find partners. For a telehealth practice, the openings are the Initiative 2.2 hub-and-spoke program when it's solicited and the group purchasing process that will source telehealth platforms.
Where Ouma fits
How tele-MFM fits Montana's model
A hub-and-spoke specialty program for rural emergency departments is the right place for maternal-fetal medicine even though the plan doesn't list it: a pregnant patient in distress arrives at the nearest emergency department, and Montana's outcome goals include perinatal telehealth. Ouma provides contracted maternal-fetal medicine coverage and ultrasound interpretation to rural and critical access hospitals, including hospitals that don't deliver babies. Ouma is licensed to practice in all 50 states and is Medicaid-enrolled in 20 states as of August 2026.
See every state's plan side by side or what a partner letter for an application looks like.
Frequently asked questions
Does Montana fund maternal telehealth through this program?
Not yet. Perinatal telehealth is an expected outcome, and the tele-specialty initiative that could carry it hasn't been solicited.
Is Montana's MOMS maternal health program part of this?
No. The state's Rural Health Transformation plan doesn't mention it.