Alaska's Rural Health Transformation Program is currently in active statewide implementation, coordinated by the Department of Health with structured oversight from an Advisory Council and strong stakeholder engagement. Major focus areas include maternal/child health, workforce development, improving access to care, technology innovation, and achieving fiscal sustainability, with ongoing regional planning meetings and an open Letter of Interest process for community participation. Current structured plan tracks 8 key initiatives and 9 strategic goals.
AK - 2026 - Department of Health | State of Alaska | Department of Health
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Reference
Rural population32.6%
239,408 rural residents
Current Progress
Implementing
Alaska’s Rural Health Transformation Program has officially launched following receipt of federal award, with a three-day statewide convening held in January 2026 to prepare stakeholders for participation and collaboration. The Department of Health closed its first Letter of Interest (LOI) submission period on March 11, 2026, and is actively reviewing nearly 1,800 LOIs with statewide planning meetings scheduled. Funding pathways and applicant resources are posted, but state-level provider procurement has not yet been issued. State opportunities: 1 total (1 past/closed). Key opportunities: Alaska Rural Health Transformation Program – Letter of Interest (LOI) Round 1. Strategy alignment: supports workforce, telehealth, maternal health priorities.
RHTP Strategy
Alaska’s RHTP executes a regionally tailored, community-led strategy built around robust Tribal-public-private partnerships. The state targets system transformation through workforce development, technology modernization, value-based care reforms, and expanded access to maternal/child health services and chronic disease management. Four structured funding pathways—readiness, planning, implementation, and targeted innovation—support projects with ongoing Advisory Council oversight and multi-year regional planning. The approach addresses Alaska’s unique rural, remote, and frontier health system challenges with a measurable, outcomes-driven focus.
Model
Regionally tailored, community-led, multi-initiative model integrating workforce recruitment, technology advancement, value-based care, and system integration; supported by Tribal-public-private partnerships and phased funding pathways.
Key Initiatives
1Expand access to maternal and child health care, including high-risk maternity and pediatric follow-up, and integrate school wellness programs in partnership with Tribal Health Organizations.
2Launch and administer structured regional planning meetings and stakeholder engagement processes via the Advisory Council to ensure rural community guidance on funding decisions and program priorities.
3Deploy mobile health units, telehealth, and digital health tools to bring primary, specialty, behavioral health, and chronic disease services closer to home, emphasizing coordination across regional care hubs.
4Design and pilot value-based payment models, alternative EMS payment arrangements, and provider participation in alternative payment methodologies to strengthen fiscal sustainability.
5Invest in rural health workforce recruitment and retention, develop career pipelines, expand rural training and certification programs with academic and licensing entities, and implement service-linked incentive programs.
6Modernize EMS and emergency care through workforce investment, treat-in-place protocols, alternative destination transport, and integration with chronic and behavioral health coordination.
7Expand and modernize health information exchange (HIE) and health data infrastructure to support care coordination, analytics, and CMS Innovation Center models.
8Facilitate subrecipient grantmaking and administrative support via Alaska Community Foundation across readiness, planning, implementation, and innovation funding streams.
Timeline: Year 1 funding cycle and Letter of Interest process: Feb–Mar 2026; statewide launch and regional planning ongoing through 2030 via four phased funding pathways, with annual review, multi-year implementation milestones, and Advisory Council oversight.
Health Priority
Rural Health Access: Alaska faces longstanding challenges in rural health care due to geography and population distribution. The RHTP prioritizes increasing access across rural and hub communities. (Regions: Statewide, Anchorage, Ketchikan, Dillingham, Cordova, Triangle (Delta Junction, Tok, Glennallen, Copper River Basin), Mat-Su, Fairbanks, Kenai Penins...
Jul 14, 2026
Program Update
Alaska RHTP is launching a six-part interactive webinar series—one for each key transformation initiative—including Healthy Beginnings, Health Care Access, Healthy Communities, Fiscal Sustainability, Workforce, and Technology & Innovation. Each series consists of several sessions designed to foster cross-sector dialogue, highlight promising models, and se...
Jul 5, 2026
Program Update
The Alaska Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Council provides guidance to the Department of Health Commissioner on RHTP design, oversight, and improvements, with structured committees to ensure broad stakeholder input. Meeting materials and recordings are published for transparency and stakeholder engagement. The Council supports strategic alig...
Jul 5, 2026
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2026
Award: $272.2M
AK - 2026 - Alaska Preliminary Letter Of Interest Submission Information RHTP 2026 Application
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SupportingPDF2025-2030Award: $272.2M
AK - 2025 - RHTP Applicant Resource Guide
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ReferencePDFBudget: $272.2M
AK - 2026 - Alaska RHTP Guidance
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SupportingPDFBudget: $272.2M
AK - 2026 - Alaska RHTP Subrecipient Eligibility
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ReferencePDF2026Award: $272.2M
AK - 2026 - Press Release: February 18, 2026, Letter of Interest Portal Opens for Alaska RHTP PDF 02/18/2026
AK - 2026 - RHTP Funding Opportunity: Letter of Interest Portal Open - Alaska Online Public Notices
AK Online Public Notice – LOI portal open
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AK - 2026 - Portfolio Analysis Review Framework
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AK - 2025 - RHTP Letters Of Interest Summary
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AK - 2026 - Agenda for July 1 meeting
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ReferencePDF2026Budget: $272.0M
AK - 2026 - Presentation for July 1 meeting
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Announcement Documents (3)
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AnnouncementMay 25, 2026PDFEvent2026
Alaska was awarded $272 million through the federal RHTP for distribution between January and October 2026. Funding will transform rural health care delivery, emphasizing improved care coordination, workforce expansion, and technology investments. Entities across Alaska—including hospitals, tribal organizations, and EMS—will be able to apply for project funds in competitive cycles beginning in 2026. Key contacts: Heidi Hedberg DOH.RHTF@alaska.gov; Emily Ricci DOH.RHTF@alaska.gov; Monique Martin DOH.RHTF@alaska.gov
Event schedule:
- RHTP application portal registration & letter of intent opens - 01/2026 - AKT - Alaska DOH website
- First funding awards expected - Spring 2026 - AKT - Statewide
- Community-led regional planning workshops - Spring/Summer 2026 - AKT - Regional
- In-Person Convening (Annual, mark your calendars!) - January 2027 - AKT
Heidi Hedberg - <DOH.RHTF@alaska.gov> - Commissioner, Alaska Department of Health - Statewide
Emily Ricci - <DOH.RHTF@alaska.gov> - Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of Health - Statewide
Monique Martin - <DOH.RHTF@alaska.gov> - Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs - Statewide
Core Initiatives
Promote lifelong health and wellbeing for rural, remote, and frontier Alaskans
Build sustainable, outcomes-driven health systems
Drive workforce and technology innovation
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AnnouncementMay 22, 2026HTML2026
Alaska Department of Health convened a statewide kickoff event to launch the RHTP implementation and provide early program direction. The event engaged diverse partners including Tribal and community organizations, emphasizing RHTP as a long-term systemic investment.
Event schedule:
- Year 1 Convening Day 1 - January 14, 2026 - Virtual
- Year 1 Convening Day 2 - January 15, 2026 - In-person
- Year 1 Convening Day 3 - January 16, 2026
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AnnouncementMay 21, 2026HTML2025
Alaska has been awarded major federal funding under the Rural Health Transformation Program to support the permanent transformation of rural health care. The press release indicates significant federal investment and new programmatic activity is forthcoming.
Event schedule:
- Press Release announcing Alaska RHTP award - 12/29/2025 - Online
Award Announcement Documents (3)
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Award AnnouncementJul 5, 2026PDF2025Federal
Alaska received a landmark $272M RHTP award. Over 1,800 proposals were submitted; more than 400 projects are advancing. Key areas include workforce, access to care, behavioral health, technology modernization, and local solutions.
Alaska launched its first year of RHTP with high engagement, including a kickoff convening and a learning series for stakeholders. Nearly 1,800 Letters of Interest were received from 864 organizations, and a competitive review process advanced hundreds of proposals for planning and implementation. Regional and community planning meetings are underway to tailor RHTP priorities to local needs.
Event schedule:
- LOI Period - 06/01/2026 - 06/22/2026
- CMS Review & Awards - 06/22/2026 - late July 2026
- Implementation Application Portal Opens - Late July 2026
- Performance Period 1 Start - August 1, 2026
- Performance Period 1 End - June 30, 2027
- Performance Period 1 Annual Report Due - July 31, 2027
This meeting agenda includes year 1 RHTP progress updates, implementation application process review, regional planning highlights, upcoming reports, and milestones. Stakeholder committee and LOI/outcomes are also on the agenda. No explicit award or financial details are listed.
Event schedule:
- Advisory Council Meeting - 07/01/2026 - 9-11:00 a.m. - Virtual/Teleconference
Alaska’s 2026 RHTP plan is built around six themed initiatives—including Healthy Beginnings, Health Care Access, Healthy Communities, Pay for Value, Strengthen Workforce, and Spark Technology—to modernize rural health delivery across the state. The document lays out detailed, allowable uses of RHTP funds for infrastructure, workforce, IT, prevention, delivery system, and payment reforms. The plan emphasizes locally led, culturally appropriate strategies, and strong attention to Alaska’s unique geography, Tribal partnerships, and workforce pipeline challenges.
Event schedule:
- Last Revised - 2026-02-19
Strengthen maternal and child health in rural Alaska
Expand access to essential health services across rural, remote, and frontier communities
Address root causes of disease through prevention and population health
Show all initiatives (16)
Strengthen maternal and child health in rural Alaska
Expand access to essential health services across rural, remote, and frontier communities
Address root causes of disease through prevention and population health
Transition rural providers to value-based and fiscally sustainable care models
Build a resilient rural health care workforce pipeline and retention system
Advance rural health outcomes using technology and innovation
Invest in patient-facing digital tools aligned with CMS and ASTP/ONC criteria to support chronic conditions, BH/SUD, pregnant women, and at-risk patients
Empower providers to use AI tools for care delivery with training and TA ensuring interoperability
Develop community-based system navigation applications connecting rural and frontier members with clinical and social services
Expand HIE platforms to integrate and store patient health data for rural, remote, and frontier providers
Create telehealth-enabled specialty care access programs linking rural primary care with specialty providers
Evaluate and pilot emerging health technologies to improve care access in remote communities
Integrate advanced analytics across multi-payer health and data systems to support program integrity and care coordination
Build health IT infrastructure to support provider participation in value-based care
Launch rural and frontier health infrastructure fund leveraging public-private partnerships for facility improvements
Summary Documents (8)
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SummaryMay 25, 2026PDFEvent2025
Day 2 of Alaska’s RHTP convening emphasized the state’s leadership in program implementation, technology-enabled transformation, and stakeholder partnerships. Sessions featured perspectives from state government, tribal health, and technology experts, highlighting the goals of system-level change, sustainable outcomes, and workforce innovation. Discussion focused on practical, scalable health IT solutions and the importance of local readiness, collaboration, and sustainability planning.
Event schedule:
- RHTP Day 2 Convening - Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska's RHTP application outlines systemic, multi-faceted rural health challenges—geographic isolation, severe workforce shortages, pronounced health disparities, and outdated infrastructure. It proposes six major cross-cutting initiatives focused on maternal/child health, care access, healthy communities, fiscal sustainability, workforce development, and technology innovation. Key strategic goals include closing health outcome gaps, advancing payment reform for financial stability, and leveraging Alaska's history of telehealth and Tribal partnership innovation.
Promote lifelong health and wellbeing for rural, remote, and frontier Alaskans
Build sustainable outcomes-driven health systems
Drive workforce and technology innovation
Show all initiatives (32)
Promote lifelong health and wellbeing for rural, remote, and frontier Alaskans
Build sustainable outcomes-driven health systems
Drive workforce and technology innovation
Make Rural America Healthy Again
Sustainable Access
Make Rural America Healthy Again.
Innovative Care.
Workforce Development.
Tech Innovation
Improve access, quality, and fiscal stability across Alaska's rural health system
Support maternal and child health, rural health access, and chronic disease management
Advance technology and innovation for health care delivery
Strengthen workforce development and retention
Promote healthy communities through health promotion and disease prevention
Ensure fiscal sustainability with value-based care models
Enhance long-term viability of rural health providers through strategic planning, financial modeling, and operational efficiency improvements
Build a skilled workforce competent in primary, behavioral, and specialty care delivery
Support sustainability plans for subrecipients
Develop payment models supporting expansion of maternal health programs
Pilot alternative EMS payment models
Reference Documents (21)
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ReferenceJul 5, 2026HTMLPast2026
Alaska RHTP is launching a six-part interactive webinar series—one for each key transformation initiative—including Healthy Beginnings, Health Care Access, Healthy Communities, Fiscal Sustainability, Workforce, and Technology & Innovation. Each series consists of several sessions designed to foster cross-sector dialogue, highlight promising models, and set visions and baselines for statewide transformation. Key session dates span from March through June 2026, with recordings and recaps posted for broad stakeholder engagement. Key contacts: RHTP@alaska.gov
Event schedule:
- Healthy Beginnings Kickoff Session - 3/24/2026 - Webinar
- Healthy Beginnings Session 2 - 5/13/2026 - Webinar
- Health Care Access Kickoff Session - 3/31/2026 - Webinar
- Health Care Access Session 2 - 5/14/2026 - Webinar
- Healthy Communities Kickoff Session - 3/23/2026 - Webinar
- Pay for Value: Fiscal Sustainability Kickoff Session - 4/1/2026 - Webinar
- Pay for Value: Fiscal Sustainability Session 2 - Webinar (planned for June 2026)
- Spark Technology and Innovation Session 2 - 5/15/2026 - Webinar
This is an agenda for a virtual advisory council meeting focusing on updates and planning related to the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). No awards or funding information is provided.
Event schedule:
- Advisory Council Meeting - 04/22/2026 - 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM - Teleconference
Spreadsheets, data exports, and reference documents — available for download but excluded from the main activity feed.
AK - 2026 - Press Release: May 20, 2026, New Online Application For DPA Services PDF 05/21/2026
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Core Initiatives
Implement a long-term, system-level investment in rural health transformation
Engage statewide stakeholders including Tribal health organizations and local partners
Establish program structure, governance, and rollout plans for RHTP
OTHER
Core Initiatives
Permanently transform rural health care in Alaska
Alaska was awarded a five-year federal RHTP grant totaling approximately $1.36 billion to transform rural health care statewide. The program focuses on prevention, chronic disease management, EMS modernization, telehealth expansion, workforce development, and sustainable care models aiming to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes.
This document is the official resource guide for applicants to Alaska's RHTP, outlining funding pathways, allowable uses, program initiatives, and federal rules. The program is a 5-year, $272 million cooperative agreement with CMS and features planned subrecipient grantmaking to local health providers, Tribal organizations, nonprofits, and others addressing rural health challenges. No sub-awards are yet made; this is an informational LOI applicant resource only.
Build a resilient rural health care workforce through recruitment, training, and retention supports
Harness technology and innovation for improved care delivery and access
Event Schedule
Advisory Council Meeting - 07/01/2026 - 9-11:00 a.m. - Virtual/Teleconference
This document provides guidance for RHTP applicants and program stakeholders in Alaska, detailing the eligible populations, provider types, service categories, and funding limits for RHTP-supported projects. It explains a portfolio-level review process designed to balance awards across populations, geographies, initiatives, and service types, and outlines key federal budget limitations attached to award categories. The guidance defines concrete population health targets and eligible entity/service types for the Alaska RHTP portfolio.
Spark Technology and Innovation in health care delivery
Launch rural technology catalyst fund to encourage adoption of emerging health technology innovations
This session convened rural health stakeholders across Alaska to address workforce as the foremost challenge in rural health transformation. Key strategies include 'grow your own' workforce pipelines, meaningful retention incentives, data-driven planning, and integrated team-based care. Alaska received approximately $272M in RHTP funding to support long-term, scalable solutions. Key contacts: Heidi Hedberg; Anne Zink; Lisa Rabinowitz
Event schedule:
- Strengthening Workforce Session - 03/24/2026 - AK - Statewide virtual session, Alaska Department of Health
Award: $272.0MWORKFORCE · OTHER
Contacts
Heidi Hedberg - Commissioner, Alaska Department of Health - Statewide
Anne Zink - Facilitator - Statewide
Lisa Rabinowitz - Facilitator - Statewide
Core Initiatives
Develop scalable and sustainable rural health workforce models
Expand local workforce training and retention
Integrate data-driven planning for workforce distribution and sustainability
Show all initiatives (4)
Develop scalable and sustainable rural health workforce models
Expand local workforce training and retention
Integrate data-driven planning for workforce distribution and sustainability
Foster cross-sector partnerships to solve workforce challenges
Alaska launched an RHTP Impact Series session to catalyze rural health transformation, focusing on value-based care and fiscal sustainability. The session identified workforce, payment reform, data, and community-clinical integration as priorities and showcased successful models already operating in Alaska. The discussion underscored Alaska's potential to expand value-based care and highlighted the challenges and strategies ahead.
Event schedule:
- RHTP Impacts: Pay for Value Kickoff Session - 04/01/2026 - AKT - Alaska Department of Health
Deliver meaningful, measurable improvements in health outcomes for Alaskans within five years.
Support alignment with RHTP funding priorities.
Encourage cross-sector collaboration to drive sustainable rural transformation.
Implement alternative payment methodologies for comprehensive health service delivery
Promote recruitment and retention in rural, remote, and frontier areas via service-linked incentives
Streamline access to health coverage through state eligibility and enrollment systems
Build population health analytics platforms integrating health data for targeted interventions
Modernize state health data systems to support CMS Innovation Center models
Expand Health Information Exchange (HIE) platforms to rural and frontier providers
Establish partnerships between rural schools, Tribal Health Organizations (THOs), and community providers for school wellness programs
Support collaboration with THOs, hospitals, clinics, primary care providers and community leaders for accurate and culturally appropriate provider gap analysis
Support partnerships with local transit agencies, community organizations, and Tribal entities to design flexible transportation solutions
Facilitate payment and delivery model partnerships to support innovative care coordination and sustainability in rural health systems
Partner with academic and licensing bodies to standardize workforce certification and expand professional development opportunities
Cultivate public-private partnerships to accelerate technology adoption and infrastructure development
The Alaska Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Council provides guidance to the Department of Health Commissioner on RHTP design, oversight, and improvements, with structured committees to ensure broad stakeholder input. Meeting materials and recordings are published for transparency and stakeholder engagement. The Council supports strategic alignment of RHTP activities but does not make funding or policy decisions. Key contacts: RHTP@alaska.gov
Event schedule:
- Advisory Council Meeting - 07/01/2026
- Advisory Council Meeting - 04/22/2026
- Advisory Council Meeting - 03/20/2026
Event Schedule
Advisory Council Meeting - 07/01/2026
Advisory Council Meeting - 04/22/2026
Advisory Council Meeting - 03/20/2026
Contacts
<RHTP@alaska.gov> - RHTP general contact - Alaska
Core Initiatives
Align the Alaska Rural Health Transformation Program with federal goals and state health system priorities
Address rural and tribal health priorities
Ensure ongoing oversight and improvement of RHTP implementation
Alaska was awarded $272 million in the first year of RHTP as one of the top recipients nationwide, reflecting its large rural population and unique health care challenges. The program aims to support targeted, systemwide investments to enhance rural access to care and strengthen long-term health system stability. Community input and stakeholder engagement are central, with regional planning meetings held statewide and an advisory council established to guide implementation. Key contacts: RHTP@alaska.gov
Event schedule:
- RHTP Advisory Council Meeting - July 1, 2026 - 9:00 AM AKT - Anchorage, RHTP Advisory Council web page
- Greater Anchorage Regional Planning Meeting - September 22, 2026 - Anchorage
- Ketchikan Regional Planning Meeting - August 10, 2026 - Ketchikan
- Dillingham Regional Planning Meeting - July 8, 2026 - Dillingham
- Cordova Regional Planning Meeting - June 29, 2026 - Cordova
- Triangle Regional Planning Meeting - June 25, 2026 - Delta Junction, Tok, Glennallen, Copper River Basin
- Mat-Su Regional Planning Meeting - June 4, 2026 - Mat-Su
- Fairbanks Regional Planning Meeting - May 5, 2026 - Fairbanks
Event Schedule
RHTP Advisory Council Meeting - July 1, 2026 - 9:00 AM AKT - Anchorage, RHTP Advisory Council web page
Seward Regional Planning Meeting - April 29, 2026 - Seward
Letter of Interest Registration Opens - February 17, 2026
Letter of Interest Registration Closes - March 11, 2026 - 9:00 AM AKT
Full Application Portal Launches - June 1, 2026
Full Application Portal Closes - June 22, 2026 - 9:00 AM AKT
Contacts
<RHTP@alaska.gov> - Program contact - Statewide
Core Initiatives
Improve access to care in rural areas
Strengthen long-term stability of Alaska's health care system
Engage stakeholders and communities through regional planning
Subscription Change Confirmation
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