PATHways Request for Proposals_FINAL~1.docx

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

Issuing Agency: Health Policy Commission Funding Opportunity Title:

Promoting Appropriate Transitions to Home (PATHways) Funding Opportunity Number: HPC-2026-001-PATHways Authority: M.G.L. c. 6D, s. 7 and c. 29, s. 2GGGG

KEY DATES

Date of Issue: April 2, 2026 Information Session: April 29, 2026 Proposal Due Date: June 4, 2026 Anticipated Awardee Announcements: July 23, 2026 Anticipated Contract Execution: September 30, 2026 Anticipated Period of Performance: 27-30 months (inclusive of Planning Period)

Table of Contents

Definitions

The following terms appearing capitalized throughout this Request for Proposals (RFP) and its Attachments have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Acute Care Hospital: Any hospital licensed by the Department of Public Health under M.G.L. c. 111, § 51G.

Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs): One or more non-profit agencies, one or more home care providers as defined in M.G.L. c. 19A, § 4, clause (c), a combination of said home care corporations acting jointly, or a state agency which is/are designated by and under contract with Executive Office for Aging and Independence (AGE) to carry out an interagency service agreement between AGE and the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) for the management of clinical screening, service authorization activities and case management for MassHealth community based long term care to eligible elderly persons. ASAPs contract with AGE to: purchase Community-Based Long Term Care Services for certain Clients, provide Protective Services, (and in some cases provide nutrition services), provide Information and Referral Services, provide Case Management Services, coordinate and authorize the delivery of Home Care Program Services, and provide clinical screening for: Nursing Facility, and Community-Based Long Term Care Services. Each agency is organized to plan, develop, and implement the coordination and delivery of Community-Based Long Term Care Services.

Applicant: An Eligible Entity submitting a Proposal for funding in response to this RFP. This is the entity with whom the HPC will enter into a Contract if awarded funding.

Attachment: Any document or exhibit referenced as attached to this RFP.

Award: Any funds or grant awarded pursuant to this RFP.

Award Manager: The primary point of contact for the HPC who will assume responsibility for overall Award management under the Contract.

Award Plan: The plan for execution of the Program developed by the Awardee prior to the beginning of the Period of Performance, in a form specified by the HPC. Subject to review by the HPC, the Award Plan is the primary basis for Award contracting, accountability, and payment.

Awardee: An Applicant that submits a response to this RFP, receives an award of funds, and enters into a Contract with the HPC as a result of this RFP.

Board: The governing board of the Health Policy Commission, established in M.G.L. c. 6D, §2(b).

Commissioner: A member of the Board.

Contract: The legally binding agreement, including any amendment(s), and attachments, between the HPC and an Awardee that results from this RFP.

Eligible Entity: (1) An Acute Care Hospital that submits a response to this RFP in partnership with at least one ASAP. If a Proposal involves multiple Acute Care Hospitals, only one (1) hospital should be designated as the Applicant.

Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS): The Massachusetts agency responsible for the administration of the MassHealth program, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 118E and Title XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act and other applicable laws and waivers.

Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE): A department within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services established pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6A, § 16.

Financial Designee: An individual employed by an Awardee who will be responsible for tracking all funds identified in the Budget Response and reporting expenditures as required by the HPC.

Financial Delegate: An individual employed by an Awardee who will assist the Financial Designee in completing and submitting any documentation for reimbursement to the HPC.

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS): Long-term care services and supports provided in the home or community, rather than in an institutional setting (e.g., home health care, home care, electronic monitoring, home delivered meals, day habilitation services, adult day health and transportation).

HCBS Hospital Liaison: An ASAP employee(s) dedicated to supporting the hospital’s efforts to connect individuals to HCBS programs and community services to support a hospital to community discharge instead of a skilled nursing facility or other institutional placement.

Implementation Period: A period of time during which the Awardee implements the Program, which begins immediately after the Planning Period and lasts for 24 months.

Implementation Plan: The plan for execution of a Program during the Implementation Period developed by the Awardee during the Planning Period, in a form specified by the HPC. Subject to review by the HPC, the Implementation Plan supplements the Award Plan and is the primary basis for outlining Program activities for the Implementation Period.

In-kind: Awardee’s contribution to the Initiative which shall not be eligible for reimbursement by the HPC and shall fund at least thirty percent (30%) of the total cost of the initiative.

Measurement Plan: The plan for tracking and reporting on measurable outcomes that the Program is expected to achieve over the Implementation Period. Awardees will work with the HPC during the Planning Period to finalize the Measurement Plan, including the measures, data sources, and processes for collecting and reporting Program data.

Period of Performance: The 27–30-month period of time during which Awardee conducts activities pursuant to an Award and Contract.

Planning Period: Up to 6-month period during which the Awardee will prepare to implement the Program prior to the start of the Implementation Period.

Program: The specific projects, activities, interventions, or approaches proposed by an Applicant.

Proposal: The document(s) submitted to the HPC by an Applicant for an Award in response to HPC-2026-001-PATHways.

Request for Proposals (RFP): A Request for Proposals issued by the HPC.

Section I: Background

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) was established in 2012 through the Commonwealth’s landmark health care cost containment law, Chapter 224: “An Act Improving the Quality of Health Care and Reducing Costs through Increased Transparency, Efficiency and Innovation.”

The HPC is an independent state agency charged with monitoring health care cost trends and making policy recommendations to improve the affordability of health care for all residents of the Commonwealth. Through data-driven analysis, actionable policy insights, public accountability, and innovative investments, the HPC seeks to improve health care delivery, lower costs, and reduce health disparities.

Since 2014, the HPC has invested over $100 million in health care organizations across the Commonwealth to enhance the delivery of effective, efficient care, promote innovative models, and work with communities to address the social determinants of health. The HPC makes investments to support care delivery transformation and innovation that aligns with the agency’s mission to advance a more transparent, accountable, and equitable health care system.

This document is a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Promoting Appropriate Transitions to Home (PATHways) investment program opportunity to support ongoing partnership between Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) and qualifying Acute Care Hospitals in Massachusetts to facilitate patient discharge to the home instead of to a skilled nursing facility or other institutional setting. PATHways was designed to build on the Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE)-funded Hospital to Home Partnership Program (HHPP), which ended in 2025 and supported partnerships between hospitals and ASAPs.

Section II: Purpose To enable the Commonwealth’s health care system to optimally deliver care in the right place, at the right time, and in the right setting for all patients, there is an urgent need to improve care transitions. As reported at the 2024 Cost Trends Hearing, 9% of hospitalized patients in 2023 had been in the hospital for more than 30 days and 2% had been in the hospital for more than 120 days.[footnoteRef:2] Patients with complex medical, behavioral, or social needs were most affected. Similarly, the HPC has found that “challenges with discharging patients to intensive community-based services from inpatient care is one factor leading to behavioral health emergency department boarding,” highlighting the importance of “exploring programs that create links from the emergency department and inpatient settings to appropriate discharge programming.”[footnoteRef:3] [2: Health Policy Commission, “2024 Health Care Cost Trends Hearing. From Crisis to Stability: The Path to a More Affordable, Accessible, and Equitable Health Care System.” November 14, 2024. https://masshpc.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/2024%20CTH%20Presentation.pdf ] [3: Health Policy Commission. “Emergency Department Boarding in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” March 2026. https://masshpc.gov/sites/default/files/ED-Boarding-Report.pdf ]

Further, the 2025 Massachusetts Transitions from Acute Care to Post Acute Care Task Force report noted that each day more than 2,000 patients statewide remain hospitalized despite being medically ready for discharge, and these discharge delays contribute to hospital crowding and suboptimal care transitions.[footnoteRef:4] Delays are often driven by factors such as post-acute care capacity constraints, fragmented care coordination, or transportation challenges. The Task Force found that “direct [home and community-based services] HCBS coordination at the point of care reduces unnecessary SNF placement and enables faster, safer discharges to the community.” [4: Massachusetts Transitions from Acute Care to Post-Acute Care (TACPAC) Task Force. Submitted July 31, 2025. https://www.mass.gov/doc/tacpac-task-force-report-final-7-31-2025-0/download ]

For those individuals who have experienced an acute hospital stay, the benefits of appropriate discharge to the home with the support of home and community-based services (HCBS) are well-documented. Studies have found: (1) Reductions in readmissions from interventions designed to improve hospital to home care transitions, particularly when such interventions begin in the hospital;[footnoteRef:5] (2) Lower payments for 60-day episodes of care for Medicare patients eligible for post-acute care at home or in a skilled nursing facility who are discharged to home with home health care;[footnoteRef:6] and (3) Qualitatively better experiences of hospital to home discharges for older persons when there is a communication structure in place between hospital and home, and when patients are connected to a range of community supports.[footnoteRef:7] [5: Anja Braet, Caroline Weltens, and Walter Sermeus, “Effective of Discharge Interventions From Hospital to Home on Hospital Readmissions: A Systematic Review,” JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports 14, no. 2 (2016):106-173. doi: 10.11124/jbisrir-2016-2381] [6: Rachel M. Werner, Norma B. Coe, PhD3; Mingyu Qi, R. Tamara Konetzka, “Patient Outcomes After Hospital Discharge to Home with Home Health vs to a Skilled Nursing Facility,” JAMA Internal Medicine 179, no. 5 (2019): 617-623. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.7998] [7: Christine Hillestad Hestevik, Marianne Molin, Jonas Debesay, Astrid Bergland, and Asta Bye, “Older Persons’ Experiences of Adapting to Daily Life at Home After Hospital Discharge: A Qualitative Metasummary,” BMC Health Services Research 19, no. 1 (2019): 224. doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4035-z]

As the population of Massachusetts residents over the age of 60 continues to grow, the demand for HCBS continues to rise and securing appropriate services to enable patients to discharge directly home can be challenging. These challenges often result in delays in discharge which can negatively impact patient, caregiver, and health care provider experience.[footnoteRef:8] To improve the capacity for hospitals to connect patients to HCBS needed for timely, effective hospital discharge to home, the Post Acute Care Task Force recommended that the Commonwealth continue to fund the HHPP model, which enables hospitals to embed liaison roles from their local ASAPs to facilitate home and community-based care coordination. [8: Kanishk Aggarwal et al. “Exploring the Ramifications of Delayed Hospital Discharges: Impacts on Patients, Physicians, and Healthcare Systems.” Cureus 16, no. 5 (2024): e61249. doi 10.7759/cureus.61249]

The HPC is issuing this RFP to solicit proposals from Acute Care Hospitals in Massachusetts to develop or advance Programs, like HHPP, that facilitate discharge from hospital to home through partnership with ASAPs. Hospitals must apply in partnership with one or more ASAPs.

The target population to be served through the PATHways program is individuals who are hospitalized or presenting at an emergency department who can be diverted to a community setting with HCBS instead of a hospital admission and/or skilled nursing facility admission.

The HPC will award funds intended to achieve the following objectives:

· Build and/or sustain partnerships between ASAPs and hospitals to strengthen communication and promote effective coordination with HCBS providers.

· Support institutional (e.g., skilled nursing facility) diversion and hospital discharge directly to home and community-based settings with HCBS.

· Collect qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of sustaining partnerships between ASAPs and hospitals.

Section III: Funding Opportunity Description

To be considered for investment, an Applicant should propose a Program that:

· Supports the position of HCBS Hospital Liaison: ASAP staff, with the knowledge of regional home and community-based services, will be embedded within the hospital, serving in the position of “HCBS Hospital Liaison.” This role will support the hospital’s efforts to connect individuals to HCBS programs and community services to support a hospital to community discharge instead of a skilled nursing facility placement and avoid return hospital or ED visits. The Liaison will work with hospital discharge coordinators to identify and screen eligible patients during inpatient stays and optimize their discharge with coordinated services, encompassing both medical care and activities of daily living.

· For example, to enable averted readmissions, improved patient experience, greater independence, and condition management this may include: coordination with state services, such as the state Home Care Program; home service identification and linking, such as securing home delivered meals or meal preparation; and connection to social supports like transportation and public assistance.

The following activities may be considered:

· Enhancement of coordination and support for timely discharge planning to home or community.

· Provision of trainings and materials to hospital staff about HCBS alternatives to institutional care.

· Discharge planning education for patients and families and Liaison-initiated follow-up post-discharge. Administrative and supervisory staff support needed for this initiative.

Note: PATHways grant funding can only be used to coordinate and support discharges from the hospital to home or community.

· Strengthening of communication and coordination for discharge to mitigate barriers or challenges that may slow hospital to home discharges.

· For example, this may include implementing a system to facilitate information exchange between HCBS providers, ASAP Liaisons, and relevant hospital staff regarding updates on service and staff availability in particular catchment areas. Examples also include facilitating data sharing between hospital record systems and ASAP Liaisons as appropriate.

This RFP seeks to award funds to existing partnerships and/or new hospital-to-home programs. Applicants may apply to continue the work started through the original Hospital to Home Partnership Program (HHPP) funded by investments from EOHHS. Or, Applicants may apply to establish new programs if they were not part of the first rounds of funding.

During the Planning Period, each Awardee will work with the HPC to define specific Planning Period objectives, including but not limited to technology integration, completing hiring and/or staffing, and securing any necessary IRB approvals. Awardees will also use the Planning Period to work with the HPC and AGE to finalize their Implementation and Measurement Plans. With the goal of supporting Awardees in their implementation planning, the HPC will encourage Awardees to attend one technical assistance session during the Planning Period that will offer guidance and expertise from AGE, drawing on experience from the original HHPP.

Throughout the Period of Performance, Awardees will be obligated to participate in contract management and evaluation activities (see Section IV: Measurement and Reporting) and contribute to the HPC’s development of resources and learning materials (e.g., guides, tools, summaries) describing key insights from the investment program experience that may be helpful to other organizations working on similar programs.

Prior to the conclusion of the Implementation Period, Awardees will engage in conversations regarding the feasibility of sustaining PATHways-funded work.

The HPC is investing a total of $1.89 million over two and a half years for the PATHways investment program as follows:

· Seven awards of up to $210,000 each from the Distressed Hospital Trust Fund. Only those hospitals listed on Attachment A, Exhibit 1 are eligible for these awards; and

· Two awards of up to $210,000 each from the Payment Reform Trust Fund. All Acute Hospitals are eligible for these awards.

Each Awardee will be required to contribute at least 30% of the total budget amount in-kind (e.g., $90,000 in in-kind for a $210,000 HPC investment, for a total program budget of at least $300,000) during the Period of Performance. Spending will happen over the course of 27-30 months and requests for reimbursement are at the discretion of the Awardee (e.g., reimbursements from the HPC may be front loaded during the first year of the program, up to certain retainage requirements described in Section VI below, with the Awardee’s in-kind contribution comprising the majority of funds in the second year). The HPC will pay the award on a reimbursement basis, pursuant to the HPC’s investment program Terms and Conditions. In reviewing proposals, the HPC will consider the proposed scope of work in the context of the amount of funding requested by the Applicant.

Section IV: Measurement and Reporting

The HPC will monitor and assess the impact of Awardees’ Programs. Awardees will contribute to quantitative and qualitative data collection and reporting, as well as collaborate with on the provision of experience surveys to program participants, as described below:

1. Quantitative data Programs will be required to submit a limited set of data measures to facilitate the HPC's analysis of state-level hospital discharge data for a subset of those eligible for and participating in the PATHways program per criteria set by the HPC. This data set may include potentially identifiable information, including medical record numbers, and the HPC will work with Awardees on appropriate participant consent or privacy review procedures. All data submissions will be made through the Commonwealth's secure data transfer platform.

2. Qualitative data On a biannual basis during the program, the HPC will require completion of a qualitative deliverable in which awardee staff respond to questions furnished by the HPC in writing. In addition, the HPC will schedule facilitated conversations and/or interviews on an up to biannual basis in quarters opposite those in which a written deliverable is completed. Questions put to the awardees in writing or verbally will document progress in implementing the program, facilitators and barriers in implementation, program outcomes, staff experience, lessons learned, and other pertinent topics. Staff may also be asked to participate in more formal interviews during the final quarters of program implementation.

3. Patient and caregiver experience Awardees will partner with AGE to implement a survey of participants, with questions supplied by AGE and the HPC, in order to collect information on the experience of patients and their families/caregivers with the PATHways program.

In addition, Awardees will be required to participate in or cooperate, as needed, with measurement activities led by the HPC or its state agency partners and/or contractors (e.g., written program updates and/or staff/clinician/ASAP interviews and/or patient feedback/surveys).

All of the above measures are subject to change at the discretion of the HPC between the date of RFP release and the conclusion of the contracting period. In their Proposals, Applicants are required to describe the workflow for their data collection (see Operational Response Template, Attachment B, Exhibit 1). Applicants also may identify additional measures that they propose to collect. In consultation with the HPC, Awardees will submit a final Measurement Plan during the Planning Period to confirm all measurement specifications and data collection plans.

Section V: HPC Assistance to Awardees

AGE will provide technical assistance to Awardees in partnership with the HPC. That assistance may include virtual webinars, educational sessions, office hours, and dissemination of materials on topics related to discharge from hospital to home.

Section VI. Award and In-Kind Contribution Information

The HPC anticipates funding up to nine (9) Awards pursuant to this RFP with no single Award totaling more than $210,000. Awardees are required to contribute at least 30% of the total program budget amount and may contribute more than 30%. The HPC will make an Award, up to no more than $210,000, based on the total budget amount so that the Awardee’s in-kind contribution totals at least 30% of the total program budget.

Contractor shall report its in-kind contributions to the HPC on a quarterly basis. If the HPC determines that Contractor’s reported in-kind contributions are insufficient, the HPC may reimburse Contractor for less than 100% of allowable costs submitted.

Applicants may receive an Award less than the amount requested and may be asked to adjust elements of their Proposal. The HPC intends to fund the strongest Proposals based on the selection criteria, described in Section VIII. The HPC is not obligated to fund a minimum number of Proposals or to distribute a minimum amount of funding for a Proposal. Award amounts will vary based on the proposed budget and scope of the Proposal.

A. Anticipated Timeline

The Contract term shall be for approximately 36 months, including a Period of Performance of up to 30 months and up to six months of final reporting and evaluation activities, beginning at Contract execution on or about September 30, 2026, and ending on or about September 30, 2029.

All dates are estimated, except for the deadline indicated in bold type. All times are Eastern Time.

2. Information Session held by HPC staff

3. Deadline for submission of written questions April 29, 2026 May 21, 2026, 5:00 PM

B. Funding Disbursement

Payment of Awards pursuant to this RFP will be made on a cost reimbursement basis. The HPC will periodically reimburse eligible costs submitted by the Awardee, up to a total of no more than the Award cap.

Further, the HPC will withhold a certain percentage of the Award to ensure compliance with requirements of the investment program. The HPC will not issue reimbursement beyond 90% of the Award cap until the Awardee has fulfilled all Program and in-kind requirements.

The HPC will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by Applicants in responding to this RFP or incurred prior to the effective date of the Contract. Any costs incurred before Contract execution will not be eligible for reimbursement by the HPC.

Applicants must submit proposed budgets in responding to the RFP, reflecting projected spending for the entirety of the Award. Final budgets will be reviewed by the HPC for approval prior to the start of the Period of Performance. The HPC has the right to decline any expenses submitted for reimbursement that are deemed out of scope for the program. Budget modifications during the course of the Contract term, such as additional or revised expenses identified during the Planning Period, will be subject to HPC approval and the Award cap.

C. Termination or Amendment of Awards

The HPC reserves the right to reduce, terminate, or recover payments, in whole or in part, in the event the Awardee fails to perform Contract requirements and provide deliverables substantially as specified in the Contract or if during the Contract term, the Awardee is determined by the HPC to be no longer qualified.

Section VII. Proposal Instructions

To be considered, an Applicant must submit a Proposal to the HPC consistent with the deadlines, requirements, and required information and Attachments described below, and in accordance with the following minimum requirements:

1. A Proposal must be submitted by an Eligible Entity (the Applicant, comprised of a partnership between an Acute Care Hospital and ASAP).

2. A Proposal must identify a Financial Designee and an Award Manager.

A. General Proposal Requirements

Each Proposal must include the following:

1. A cover letter signed by the relevant department/division head(s) and nursing director/manager.

2. A resume for the Award Manager.

3. A complete response (including all Exhibits) for funding as described in Section VII. C, including:

a. Operational Response Template (Attachment B, Exhibit 1)

b. Budget Response Template (Attachment B, Exhibit 2)

4. Mandatory Contracting Forms. Each Application must include copies of the following documents signed by an authorized signatory of the Applicant:

a. Commonwealth Standard Contract Form (Attachment C, Exhibit 2)

b. Contractor Authorized Signatory Form (Attachment C, Exhibit 3)

Proposals must be submitted through COMMBUYS by no later than June 4, 2026, 5:00 PM.

B. Cover Letter Instructions

Applicants must submit a cover letter that includes all of the following information (failure to submit a cover letter including all components may result in disqualification from consideration for funding):

1. A statement that the Proposal is an application for Funding Opportunity HPC-2026-001-PATHways;

1. The name and principal address of the Applicant;

1. A description of the Applicant’s legal entity status (e.g., not-for-profit corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, etc.);

1. A statement that the Proposal is effective through the date that the Applicant executes a Contract with HPC pursuant to this RFP;

1. The specific amount of funding requested (must match the PATHways funded figure in the Budget Response);

1. Affirmation that if awarded funding, the Applicant will implement the proposed Program as described in the Proposal;

1. Affirmation that if awarded funding, the Applicant will submit an Award Plan to be approved by the HPC and incorporated into the Contract;

1. Affirmation that if awarded funding the Applicant will begin activities on October 1, 2026 or on the date the Contract is executed, whichever is later;

1. A statement that all documents submitted by the Applicant are truthful and accurate;

1. A statement that the Applicant has read the RFP and all Attachments and understands the terms and conditions pursuant to which funding may be awarded; and

1. An attestation from that Applicant that the following mandatory contract forms, available as Attachments to this RFP, have been signed and are included with the Proposal:

10. Commonwealth Standard Contract Form and Instructions

10. Contractor Authorized Signatory Form

C. Operational Response Instructions

The Applicant must complete all elements of the Operational Response as described below to be considered. The Operational Response consists of two Exhibits:

1) The Operational Response Template (Attachment B, Exhibit 1)

2) The Budget Response Template (Attachment B, Exhibit 2)

The Applicant must submit a completed Operational Response Template provided in Attachment B, Exhibit 1 with all questions answered. The Applicant must follow all instructions in the template. An Operational Response may not exceed 10 pages, exclusive of any attachments (e.g., CVs, articles, or MOUs).

Applicants must complete the Budget Response Template provided in Attachment B, Exhibit 2 indicating the funding requested.

Section VIII. Proposal Review, Selection & Award Process

A. General Provisions

This Request for Proposals for the HPC’s PATHways investment program is issued pursuant to the Massachusetts Revised State Grants, Federal Sub-Grants, and Subsidies Policy (Issued 7-1-2004, last updated 2-26-2026) (Grants Policy). Many terms included in the Grants Policy, as well as the definitions section of the Operational Services Department (OSD) state procurement regulations (815 CMR 21.02), are incorporated by reference into this RFP. Words used but not specifically defined in this RFP shall have the meanings included in 801 CMR 21.02, or the Grants Policy. Unless otherwise specified, all communications, responses, and documentation must be in English, using English customary weights and measures (feet, pounds, quarts, etc.) and U.S. dollars. All responses must be submitted in accordance with the terms specified in Definitions.

The HPC reserves the right to amend this RFP at any time prior to the date responses are due, or to suspend or terminate an Award in whole or in part at any time. Any such amendment will be posted on COMMBUYS. Applicants should check this site regularly, as this will be the sole method for notification of changes.

Awards made pursuant to this RFP shall be for a fixed amount, which amount shall be preliminarily determined and announced to the Awardee at the time of selection and finalized upon Contract execution. HPC makes no guarantee that a Contract, or any obligation to provide funding to any Applicant, will result from this RFP. The HPC also makes no guarantee that funds will be available to successful Applicants on this RFP.

B. Contact of Eligible Entities and any Subcontractors with Health Policy Commission

Selection of Awardees pursuant to this RFP is being conducted consistent with state bidding practices. Eligible Entities or any agent(s) working on their behalf, are prohibited from communicating directly with any HPC Commissioners or staff regarding this RFP except as specified in Section VIII C. below. No other individual HPC employee or representative is authorized to provide any information or respond to any question or inquiry concerning this RFP. Any unauthorized communication or contact may result in immediate ineligibility of an Applicant at the sole discretion of the HPC.

Applicants must disclose any interest that will conflict with the performance of services required under any Contract resulting from this RFP.

Applicants with disabilities or hardships that seek reasonable accommodation, which may include the receipt of RFP information in an alternative format, must submit a written statement to the RFP contact describing the Applicant’s disability and the requested accommodation. HPC reserves the right to reject unreasonable requests. Applicants may also request a hardcopy of the RFP, pertinent Attachments, or any of its components, by contacting the HPC’s contact person for the RFP.

C. Information Session and Questions

The HPC anticipates hosting an RFP Information Session to provide details about this funding opportunity and to answer questions from potential Applicants. The Information Session will provide an overview of this RFP and will describe key topics related to scope, deadlines, submission requirements, and details of the Proposal submission instructions. The registration link for the Information Session will be located on the HPC’s website under “Programs and Policy > Care Delivery Transformation > Investment Programs.”

The Information Session is scheduled as follows and will be held via an online webinar — dates are subject to change.

· Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 12:00 – 1:00 PM

Applicants may make written inquiries concerning this RFP until no later than May 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM, as specified in the Timetable in Section VI. A of this RFP. Written inquiries must be sent to HPC-PATHways@mass.gov. Acknowledgment of receipt may not be provided. HPC will review all questions and, at its discretion and on a rolling basis, prepare written responses to those it determines to be of general interest and relevant to the preparation of a response to the RFP. These responses will be posted on COMMBUYS. HPC may respond individually to an Applicant regarding de minimis questions on process that are applicable only to the Applicant, without posting responses on COMMBUYS. A full record of responses will be made available upon specific request.

D. Review and Selection Process

Responses to this RFP will be evaluated by a review committee composed of individuals designated by the HPC Executive Director, pursuant to 958 CMR 5.07. The review committee will review and evaluate each Proposal based on the Selection Criteria (Section VIII. E).

The HPC reserves the right to reject an Applicant’s response at any time during the evaluation process if the Applicant:

a) Fails to demonstrate to HPC’s satisfaction that it meets all RFP requirements;

b) Fails to submit all required information or otherwise satisfy all response requirements in Section VII; or

c) Rejects or qualifies its agreement to any of the mandatory provisions of the RFP or the Commonwealth’s Standard Contract Form and Instructions

The HPC may determine that non-compliance with an RFP requirement is insubstantial. The HPC may seek clarification, allow the Applicant to make minor corrections, take the non-compliance into account in evaluating the response, or apply a combination of all three remedies. However, the HPC emphasizes that an incomplete response or a response that does not comply with submission requirements will be disadvantaged and possibly disqualified.

1. Clarifications

The HPC may seek additional information from Applicants as necessary to complete review of the Proposal. The HPC must receive all requested additional materials within the timeframe established by the HPC or the HPC may determine the Proposal is incomplete.

2. Interviews

The HPC may interview some Applicants. Interviews will provide Applicants with an opportunity to present their Proposal and provide answers to questions regarding the Proposal. Specific instructions and an invitation will be provided within a reasonable amount of time prior to a scheduled interview.

3. References

The HPC may request references, verify references, or consider any written references submitted to the HPC, at any time during the Award process and at any time during the Period of Performance.

4. Selection and Notification of Awardees

The review committee will recommend Applicants to the Executive Director to receive Awards and the amounts to be awarded. The Executive Director will subsequently make recommendations to the Board. The amounts to be awarded may be an amount greater than or less than that requested by the Applicant. Recommendations for Awards will be made based on the availability of funds, the degree to which an Applicant meets criteria described in this RFP, and the degree to which the Proposal meets the Applicant’s need for funding.

The Executive Director may recommend Awards based on the Proposals that demonstrate the best value overall, including proposed alternatives to Proposals as submitted, which will achieve the Commonwealth’s and HPC’s goals for the PATHways investment program. During finalization of the Contract, the HPC and an Awardee may negotiate a change in any element of the Awardee’s Proposal that results in lower costs or higher impact.

The Board will make the final Award decisions based on the recommendations of the Executive Director and criteria in this RFP and authorizing statutes and regulations. The Board’s decisions are final and not subject to further review or appeal. The HPC will notify all Applicants of their selection or non-selection for an Award. All Awards are contingent upon finalization of Contract terms by the Applicant and the HPC.

E. Selection Criteria

This section describes the criteria for review and selection of Awards for this RFP. The Proposal must be organized as detailed in Section VII. The HPC will assemble a review committee to evaluate all Proposals submitted in accordance with Section VII. that meet the minimum requirements listed in Section VII. In addition to the Proposal as submitted, the HPC may consider any relevant information about the Applicant known to HPC, including, but not limited to, HPC’s prior experience working with the Applicant, as applicable. Proposals will be scored based on a total of 100 points. The following criteria will be used to evaluate each Proposal:

· Proposed Program (40 points)

· Clarity of program goals and potential impact on quality, care delivery improvement, efficiency, cost, outcomes, and experience of eligible patients.

· Clarity and feasibility of proposed approach to meeting the Program requirements set out in the Funding Opportunity Description (Section III), including but not limited to staffing of HCBS Hospital Liaison and resource investment, communication coordination, training, and other supports to facilitate integration of liaison and patient discharge from hospital to home.

· Geographic need and population need.

· Applicant (20 points)

· Financial health and demonstrated need.

· Demonstrated relationship between ASAP and hospital.

· Commitment of relevant leadership and staff to the program.

· Measurement and Data Reporting (5 points)

· Adequacy of the workflow to accomplish the data reporting requirements.

· Budget (15 points)

· Adequacy and appropriateness of the budget to support proposed activities and goals of the proposed Program.

· Demonstrated plan for commitment of required in-kind resources to the program.

· Efficient use of financial resources.

· Sustainability and Scalability (20 points)

· Applicant’s approach to sustaining the Program beyond the Period of Performance, including but not limited to anticipated return on investment or impact on costs, efficiency, and care delivery improvement.

· Description of internal strategic plan to gain support for sustainability of the model beyond grant funding.

Section IX. Additional Terms and Details A. Responsibilities of Eligible Entities

Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining all information distributed for this solicitation on COMMBUYS. Any documents amended through the course of this RFP will be retained on COMMBUYS.

It is each Applicant’s responsibility to regularly check COMMBUYS for:

1) Any addenda or modifications to this RFP, including any questions and answers.

2) Any records or documents related to Information Sessions hosted relative to this funding opportunity.

3) The Commonwealth accepts no responsibility and will provide no accommodation to Applicants who submit a Proposal based on an out-of-date document or on information received from a source other than COMMBUYS or from a written communication from a permissible contact as specified in Section VIII. B.

B. General Requirements

1) Electronic Communication/Update of Applicant’s/Awardee’s Contact Information

It is the responsibility of the Applicant/Awardee to keep current the email address of the contact person and prospective Award Manager, if awarded a Contract, and to monitor that email inbox for communications from the HPC, including requests for clarification. The HPC and the Commonwealth assume no responsibility if an Applicant’s/Awardee’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the Applicant’s/Awardee’s computer, network or internet service provider (ISP) cause email communications sent to/from the Applicant/Awardee and the HPC to be delayed, lost or rejected by any means, including electronic mail or spam filtering. Where no other email address is provided to the HPC, communications will be sent by default to the Chief Executive Officer of an Applicant/Awardee.

2) Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)

All Applicants responding to this RFP must agree to participate in the Commonwealth Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) program for receiving payments. EFT is a benefit to both Awardees and the Commonwealth because it ensures fast, safe and reliable payment directly to contractors and saves both parties the cost of processing checks. Awardees are able to track and verify payments made electronically through the Comptroller’s Vendor Web system. Additional information about EFT is available on the VendorWeb site (www.mass.gov/osc).

Successful Applicants, upon notification of Contract Award, will be required to enroll in EFT as a Contract requirement by completing and submitting the Authorization for Electronic Funds Payment Form to the HPC for review, approval and forwarding to the Office of the Comptroller. If the Applicant is already enrolled in the program, it may so indicate in its Proposal. Because the Authorization for Electronic Funds Payment Form contains banking information, this form, and all information contained on this form, shall not be considered a public record and shall not be subject to public disclosure through a public records request. An Applicant who is currently registered with the Commonwealth to receive payment by EFT is not required to submit forms described herein.

3) Identifiable Health Information

Any activities conducted by the Applicant or Awardee pursuant to this RFP that generate or use information or data involving the use or disclosure of protected health information are subject to the requirements of 45 CFR 160, 162, and 164 (the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)) and also may be subject to the requirements of the federal Drug and Alcohol Confidentiality Law, 42 CFR part 2. The Applicant or Awardees is responsible for compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR part 2 and all other applicable state or federal legal requirements.

4) Incorporation of RFP

This RFP and any documents an Applicant submits in response to it are incorporated by reference into any Contract that may be awarded to that Applicant.

5) Public Records

All responses and related documents submitted in response to this RFP are public records and are subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c. 66, § 10 and M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(26). Any statements in submitted responses that are inconsistent with these statutes will be disregarded. HPC will not return to Applicants any Proposals or materials they submit in response to this RFP.

6) Press Conferences or News Release Restrictions

No Applicant or Awardee shall make any press conference, news releases, or announcements concerning its selection for an Award prior to the HPC’s public release of such information or prior to the written approval of the HPC.

7) Contract Award Letter

The identification of an Awardee in a notice of Award creates no contractual or legal obligation for the HPC. An Awardee may not rely on an award letter or any other verbal or written assurances from any sources, to begin performance or otherwise incur obligations for which the Awardee anticipates funding through the Award. Performance for which an Awardee seeks compensation may not be delivered outside the scope of a properly executed Contract, and an Awardee assumes the risk that funding will not be available for any costs incurred.

8) Restriction on the Use of the Commonwealth Seal

Applicants and Awardees are not allowed to display the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Seal in their Proposal or subsequent marketing materials if they are awarded a Contract because use of the coat of arms and the Great Seal of the Commonwealth for advertising or commercial purposes is prohibited by law.

9) Restriction on the Use of the Health Policy Commission logo and branding

Applicants are not allowed to display the Health Policy Commission logo and branding in their Proposal. Awardees are allowed to display the Health Policy Commission logo and branding only as specified in any Contract with the HPC.

10) Requests for Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants with disabilities or hardships that seek reasonable accommodation, which may include the receipt of RFP information in an alternative format, must submit a written statement to the RFP contact persons describing the Applicant’s disability and the requested accommodation to the contact person for the RFP. HPC reserves the right to reject unreasonable requests. Applicants may also request a hardcopy of the RFP, pertinent Attachments, or any of its components, by contacting the permissible RFP Staff.

C. Contract Documents

All Applicants selected to receive an Award must execute a Contract with the HPC, as required by 815 CMR 2.05 and, as applicable, to implement the terms of the Award and in order to receive payment. The Contract shall consist of the following documents: the Commonwealth Standard Contract Form, which shall include a description of the approved scope; this Request for Proposals; the Notice of Award; and, Contractor’s response to the RFP, exclusive of any terms that are inconsistent with, or purport to modify or supersede the Commonwealth’s Terms and Conditions or the Standard Contract Form. Applicants are required to submit signed copies of the Commonwealth Standard Contract Form and Authorized Signatory Form (collectively, Contracting Forms) with their Proposals. Copies of the Contracting Forms are attached to this RFP. In addition, as part of the contracting process, each Awardee also will be required to sign a Request for Taxation Identification Number and Certification (W-9), an Authorization for Electronic Funds Transfer, and a Certification Regarding Disbarment and Suspension.

Section X. Appendix

Listing of External Attachments

Attachment A: Supplemental Information Exhibit 1: Distressed Hospital Trust Fund (DHTF) Eligible Hospitals

Attachment B: Mandatory Submission Templates Exhibit 1: Operational Response Template Exhibit 2: Budget Response Template

Attachment C: Mandatory Contracting Forms Exhibit 1: Commonwealth Terms and Conditions Exhibit 2: Commonwealth Standard Contract Form and Instructions Exhibit 3: Contractor Authorized Signatory Form