Description
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
Medicaid Transformation & Maternal and Child Health Systems Consultant
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP)
RFP #26-10001
RFP Release Date: March 19, 2026
Proposal Deadline: Sunday, April 5, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET)
Anticipated Contract Start Date: April 15, 2026
Contract Ceiling: Not to exceed $40,000
About AMCHP
The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) is a national resource, partner, and advocate for state public health leaders who work and support state maternal and child health programs and others working to improve the health of women, children, youth, families, and communities.
We build successful programs by disseminating best practices, advocating on behalf of our members in Washington, DC, providing technical assistance, convening leaders to share experiences and ideas, and advising states to reach our common goal of healthy children, healthy families, and healthy communities.
Purpose of this RFP
AMCHP seeks a consultant with applied Medicaid expertise to support our MCH portfolio during a time of rapid Medicaid transformation.
This consultant will:
- Provide applied Medicaid policy analysis and strategic insights within the organization and among the organization’s partners.
- Strengthen partnerships between state health agency staff responsible for administering MCH programs (including those funded through the Title V MCH Services Block Grant) and state Medicaid agencies.
- Build AMCHP’s internal capacity and shared knowledge of Medicaid financing, transformation strategies, and cross-agency collaboration.
We are seeking a mid-career professional with direct, practical experience working within or alongside:
- A state Medicaid agency,
- A managed care organization (MCO),
- A Medicaid policy or financing office, or
- A delivery system reform or payment transformation initiative
- In addition to technical expertise, we are seeking someone skilled in peer learning facilitation, collaborative inquiry, and internal capacity building. This role combines applied policy expertise with mentorship and knowledge-sharing. We are intentionally seeking someone warm and collaborative in their approach.
Requirements
Scope of Work
The consultant will work approximately 10–20 hours per week from April through September 2026, in partnership with AMCHP staff.
1. Medicaid Policy Analysis & Strategic Support
The consultant will:
- Track and analyze Medicaid policy developments affecting maternal and child health populations.
- Monitor and interpret developments related to:
o 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage extensions
o Value-based and alternative payment models
o Managed care structures
o Waiver authorities
o Payment pathways for the comprehensive community-based workforce
o Health-related social needs financing
- Support strategy development for strengthening partnerships between state and jurisdictional maternal and child health programs, their partners, and Medicaid agencies.
- Advise on opportunities to leverage federal initiatives including:
o CMS Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model
o Rural Health Transformation grants
o Other federal and state financing reforms
- Recommend modalities for recognizing and celebrating state-level Medicaid policy developments.
- Partner with AMCHP staff to coordinate with national partners and represent AMCHP members’ interests in coalitions and collaborative forums.
2. Technical Assistance & State-Level Engagement
AMCHP is a leader or partner in several national technical assistance (TA) centers. The consultant will:
- Collaborate directly with state public health and policy decision makers and community-rooted partners through AMCHP-contracted TA centers.
- Provide applied coaching and consultation in response to emerging TA requests.
- Offer strategic insight on cross-agency and cross-initiative alignment and implementation strategies.
TA delivery will be flexible and responsive. A reasonable estimate may include intensive email- or phone-based coaching (not typically exceeding five hours per request), approximately once per month, delivered in partnership with AMCHP staff and aligned with established TA request processes.
3. Internal Capacity Building & Professional Development
A central goal of this contract is to deepen AMCHP staff capacity in Medicaid transformation.
The consultant will:
- Design and facilitate internal learning opportunities (e.g., journal clubs, learning cohorts, or office hours).
- Provide monthly or periodic updates to AMCHP staff on key Medicaid developments influencing maternal and child health systems.
- Support shadowing opportunities for staff to observe applied Medicaid analysis and coaching.
- Collaborate with AMCHP teams, including joining regular team meetings.
- Contribute to the development of internal language and shared frameworks related to Medicaid transformation.
Over time, success will be reflected in increased AMCHP staff confidence and comfort engaging in Medicaid policy discussions, including the ability of one or more staff to co-facilitate or co-deliver technical assistance alongside the consultant.
Deliverables & Flexibility
Deliverables for this contract will be co-created between AMCHP and the selected consultant and may evolve in response to emerging technical assistance needs.
Anticipated deliverables may include:
- Direct TA coaching engagements with state partners
- Participation in internal team meetings and cross-team coordination
- Monthly internal learning sessions or office hours
- Short written policy briefs or TA resources highlighting Medicaid transformation examples (e.g., value-based payment models, midwifery reimbursement strategies, community health worker financing models)
- Recommendations for strengthening sustainable internal Medicaid capacity at AMCHP
The distribution of hours may be weighted more heavily in the early months to support knowledge transfer and internal capacity building.
Contract Structure
- Contract Period: April 1 – September 30, 2026
- Estimated Hours: 10–20 hours per week
- Total Compensation: Not to exceed $40,000
- Billing: Monthly invoicing required
- Hour Tracking: Consultant must track and report hours worked
- Work Location: Fully remote
Not all activities must take place during standard business hours. However, the consultant is expected to be available during core business hours for approximately 50% of their work time to support technical assistance delivery, meetings, and internal collaboration. Meetings will be scheduled in advance and in close coordination with the consultant as much as possible.
Applicants should propose an hourly rate consistent with their experience and availability within the $40,000 contract ceiling.
Desired Qualifications
Required
- Direct experience working within or closely with a state Medicaid agency, managed care organization, or payer environment
- Demonstrated understanding of Medicaid financing, managed care, waiver authorities, and reimbursement strategies, with particular emphasis in using these levers to improve health care access and the health and wellbeing of individuals facing systemic barriers to thriving health outcomes
- Experience supporting cross-agency or cross-sector state-level partnerships
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Experience facilitating peer learning, coaching, or professional development
- Collaborative and relational working style
Strongly Preferred
- Knowledge of the Title V MCH Services Block Grant and its role in maternal and child health planning and implementation across states and jurisdictions
- Familiarity with maternal health transformation initiatives
- Experience mentoring public health professionals
- Experience working in remote team environments
Proposal Submission Requirements
Applicants must submit a proposal not to exceed three (3) pages, including:
- Description of Relevant Experience
- Applied experience working within or closely alongside Medicaid entities (e.g., state Medicaid agency, managed care organization, policy office, delivery system reform initiative)
- Specific examples of Medicaid policy, financing, managed care, waiver, or payment transformation work you have directly supported
- Experience collaborating across public health and Medicaid agencies or facilitating cross sector partnerships
- Experience supporting maternal and child health populations
- Proposed Approach
-
- How you would track, interpret, and translate Medicaid policy developments relevant to maternal and child health
- How you would deliver responsive, practical technical assistance and coaching to state partners
- Your approach to peer learning facilitation, mentorship, and internal capacity building
- How you would support knowledge transfer to AMCHP staff over the course of the
contract - A brief high-level outline of how you would structure work across the April-September contract period.
3. Proposed Budget (not included in page count)
-
- Hourly rate
- Estimated total hours
- Total cost (not to exceed $40,000)
- Any key information related to scope or availability
4. A current resume or CV (not included in page count)
Selection Process
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Depth of applied Medicaid expertise
- Experience supporting state-level collaboration
- Experience facilitating peer learning and capacity building
- Alignment with AMCHP’s relational and collaborative approach
- Budget feasibility within contract ceiling
AMCHP will review proposals expeditiously and anticipates inviting selected applicants for brief virtual interviews the week of April 6, 2026.
AMCHP Culture & Values
AMCHP is a collaborative, learning-oriented organization committed to strengthening public health systems in partnership with communities and state leaders. We value curiosity, humility, shared discovery, and care in our work. We seek partners who approach systems change with both rigor and relational awareness. We are committed to fostering environments grounded in trust, reflection, and collective problem-solving.
Submission Instructions
Please submit materials electronically by Sunday, April 5, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET) to: AMCHP’s to: AMCHP's Tracking System.
Subject Line: Medicaid Transformation Consultant RFP
Questions may be directed to Andria Cornell, acornell@amchp.org
