RFP Released: Friday, September 25, 2026 — click here to view application

Applications due: Friday, November 20, 2026, by 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Questions: Please submit questions to MHPartners@chronicdisease.org. A FAQ document will be updated regularly with answers to some of the most common questions about the application and process.

All completed  applications should be submitted to https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/01a0c46949de7829b70e11e7d93ef303, no later than 8 pm Eastern Time (ET), November 20, 2026.

Period of Performance: Upon memorandum of understanding (MOU) initiation – July 30, 2027

Funding: Up to six awardees for $50,000-$75,000 each

About the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors: The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors improves the health of the public by strengthening state-based leadership and expertise for chronic disease prevention and control in states and at the national level. Founded in 1988, NACDD aims to lead and influence the ways that chronic disease prevention and health promotion shape the health landscape.

Brief Project Overview: The resources provided through this opportunity are intended to support the use of policies, systems, and services that enhance, optimize, or expand Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) referral, participation, and/or completion. Successful applicants will demonstrate the ability to replicate or expand collaborative initiatives, advance the use of new delivery models that fulfill the core components of CR, or otherwise employ creative solutions to increase referrals, participation, and/or completion of CR.

Formal research projects cannot be funded. From the HHS Office of Research Integrity, research is defined as “systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge”.

Project examples include, but are not limited to:

• Equipping CR teams and partners with information and resources to implement quality improvement initiatives that drive uptake and/or completion of CR

• Supporting or expanding the opportunity to deliver virtual CR sessions with synchronous audio/visual communication

• Supporting policies and plans that make it easier to enroll in and complete CR (e.g., offer inpatient peer or social support, provide transportation services, reduce or eliminate cost-sharing, etc.)

• Generating or disseminating data to assess CR use or drive improvement in CR referral, participation, and completion

• Informing and educating people who may qualify for CR about the benefits of the program(s) and opportunity to seek a referral, as appropriate

• Establishing, strengthening, or supporting partnerships to improve CR referral, participation, and/or completion

• Linking CR-eligible patients and CR patients to supplemental social support services or programs

Eligible Applicants: Million Hearts^® invites the following types of entities to apply for funding to enhance CR referral, participation, and/or completion.