The Department of Health and Human Services submitted its Rural Health Transformation grant application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Nov. 4 at about 9:37 p.m., Commissioner Lori Weaver said at the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee meeting on Nov. 21. The agency posted a public summary of the application and will respond to CMS questions during an open engagement period, Weaver said.

Weaver said the department distilled the application into a summary that it posted online to reflect roughly the community input gathered across the state. She said CMS will follow up with questions and budget negotiations; the department expects to learn what has been approved and the associated budget on Dec. 31. ‘‘We will provide answers. We'll do a little bit of editing and massaging based on their feedback on our proposal, as well as some budget negotiations,’’ Weaver said.

If the state receives an award, Weaver said an administrative structure called “Go North” in the governor’s office would hold oversight and the department would move quickly into procurement and contract activity, likely between January and March. She said some positions could be hired with grant funds as long as the department keeps administrative spending within an allowable 10 percent cap, and that some existing staff may take on dual roles supporting grant administration.

Weaver emphasized that not all community ideas could be funded because the grant has parameters about allowable activities. She described the application as representing ‘‘the voice of New Hampshire’’ and said the department aims to use any award to scale services and programs identified in community outreach.

The committee asked the department to be ready to brief members about detailed budget and staffing implications once CMS issues its decision. Weaver said she would return with more detailed implementation and procurement timelines after award notification.