Connecticut

Connecticut was awarded $154.2 million for year one and an estimated total of $771 million over five years under the RHT Program to enhance rural health access through workforce development, care coordination, and technology modernization. Legislative proposal Senate Bill 93 outlines state policies to support these goals.

This document provides instructions for CT OHS Rural Health Transformation Program grantees to prepare budgets in compliance with CMS guidelines. It emphasizes requirements and procedures for budgeting activities such as rural travel, community outreach, and remote patient monitoring devices, and references federal regulations for compliance. The guidance also helps applicants align their project budget documentation with standardized cost categories.

Connecticut’s Rural Health Transformation Program aims to address healthcare delivery gaps through technology-driven models, performance-based payments, and targeted investments in workforce and telehealth capacity. The plan responds to documented shortages of primary care, behavioral health, and specialty providers in rural regions, where residents face higher rates of chronic disease, limited transportation, and significant financial strain. By 2031, Connecticut intends to reshape the rural health landscape with integrated care and sustainable facility access points for rural communities. Event schedule: - Updated Project Narrative Date - 2026-03-16 - Connecticut - Spring 2026 Legislative Session - 2026-03-01 - Connecticut - FFY 2031 Performance Target Deadline - 2031-09-30 - Connecticut - Completion of required policy and regulatory actions - 2027-12-31 - Connecticut - Finalization of technical updates for implementation - 2028-12-31 - Connecticut

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Connecticut's Rural Health Transformation Program includes 25+ initiatives targeting aging, behavioral health, technology access, care coordination, and rural workforce infrastructure. Projects include crisis stabilization, digital equity, provider incentives, school-based supports, hospital transformation, shared HIT infrastructure, and coordinated population health outreach in partnership with CT Tribal Nations. The program utilizes both new models (e.g., AI-powered care) and scaling of proven pilots, prioritizing sustainable, scalable transformation.

Connecticut's RHTP funds a $154.2 million statewide rural transformation initiative across aging, behavioral health, IT modernization, hospital transformation, and workforce. Major investments include PACE expansion, hospital right-sizing, HIE, crisis stabilization, rural care pilots, and health workforce. Direct recipient/contractor awards include named health systems, tech, behavioral health, and education entities under competitive or designated assignments.

Connecticut's total RHTP allocation exceeds $154 million for FY 2026-2027, with funds supporting a diverse portfolio: rural hospital transformation and infrastructure, mobile health pilots, mental health expansions, workforce incentives, universal nurse visits, and major investment in health information technology and data analytics. The state's plan emphasizes direct investments to critical access points such as rural hospitals, primary and maternal health, behavioral healthcare, and telehealth capability, along with concerted workforce training, engagement in value-based payment, and addressing the digital divide through modern IT infrastructure. Oversight by DSS is supported by OHS and DMHAS as key state partners. Key contacts: Mehul Dalal Event schedule: - Budget Period 1: Performance Start - 12/29/2025 - Budget Period 1: Performance End - 10/30/2026 - Permissible Spending End - 09/30/2027 - Connecticut Department of Social Services - RHT Budget Narrative Updated - 2026-04-07 - Connecticut

CT DSS is piloting a bundled maternity payment model for Medicaid births, with health equity as a central focus. The bundle will include doulas, payment parity for Certified Nurse Midwives, and strive for improved maternal health outcomes tracked by race and ethnicity. The strategy aims to remedy disparities and incentivize value-based care.

Reference: Governor Lamont Announces Federal Health Investments TO Improve Outdoor Recreation Link: https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/07-2026/governor-lamont-announces-federal-health-investments-to-improve-outdoor-recreation

Connecticut's RHTP funds a comprehensive statewide transformation—including rural hospital stabilization, mobile health pilots, technology modernization, crisis stabilization units, and rural workforce expansion. Programs target care delivery, technology upgrades, integration of behavioral/physical health, value-based payments, and direct support to rural providers, EMS, and critical access hospitals. The program emphasizes cross-agency collaboration and robust oversight with substantial investment in direct provider, IT, and workforce capacity.