The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is providing the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program to help “…State governments to support rural communities across America in improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem.”
The RHT programs for each state are rolling out rapidly.
- Grant applications, multiple deadlines, and other requests are occurring currently and within the next few weeks to months.
- Be sure to monitor your state’s website for updated information, instructions and guidance, training materials, Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), and other resources.Included below are a few comments on Georgia and Alabama.
- Review the overall initiatives outlined for your individual state and consider potential projects, plans, improvements, or other opportunities which could be developed and submitted when a new NOFO is announced.
- Each grant application period may be limited (from thirty to forty-five days) so be prepared to respond promptly and monitor deadlines closely.
- Grant applications are requesting a gov registration with the Unique Entity Identifier for the hospital and/or organization that is submitting the application.
- Be aware that the information needed for the SAM.gov registration as well as the process itself may take several days up to more than a week for review and approval.
- For many states, grant awards are expected in September/October of 2026 with funds to be spent by September 30, 2027.
- Review the applicable federal law, regulations, and policies for the grant awards, other program guidelines and requirements, and single audit considerations.
- Reach out to the state’s designated technical support for assistance with the RHT program applications, portal registrations, or other questions as needed.
Georgia
For rural hospitals who signed the Letter of Intent for the Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) model pre-implementation planning, the Round 3 NOFO has been released. This funding is to support the hospital’s migration to the AHEAD payment system, increase primary care reach, and improve regional collaboration. The funding amount is $750,000 per award with 87 awards available. There is another NOFO for Care to Consumer Point-of-Care Telepod for $356,465 per award for up to 20 awards. Both applications opened on May 15, 2026, and will close on June 15, 2026. Additional NOFOs are expected to be released on June 15, 2026, with a closing date of July 15, 2026. DCH has a webinar slated for June 10, 2026, to answer questions related to submitting a financial assessment tool of intended recipients. For more information: https://greathealth.georgia.gov
Alabama
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) recently completed “roadshow workshops” which provided an overview of the state’s eleven initiatives. Applications for the first five initiatives and NOFOs are expected in early June with the remaining initiatives and NOFOs released in the coming weeks. For more information: https://adeca.alabama.gov
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