The Louisiana Rural Health Transformation Program is actively being implemented by the Louisiana Department of Health, focusing on strategic investments in workforce development, value-based care, telehealth, infrastructure, emergency medical services, and rural health innovation. The program engages a broad coalition of healthcare providers, community organizations, technology partners, educational institutions, and state agencies to improve health outcomes, reduce disparities, and foster sustainable care models in rural areas. Multiple competitive funding opportunities and program applications are open, emphasizing collaboration and value-based approaches. Current activities include structured application processes and technical support across several targeted initiatives. Current structured plan tracks 8 key initiatives and 8 strategic goals.
Louisiana has launched multiple active Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for rural providers, spanning alternative payment models, telehealth, workforce, provider collaboration, and community nutrition. Applications are currently open or under review, with federal award funding allocated and timelines set for mid-2026 for funding decisions and program launch. This marks statewide public procurement to subrecipients. State opportunities: 2 active (2 open, 3 past/closed), $4.6M listed funding. Key opportunities: Rural Medicaid Alternative Payment Model Program (Initiative 3); Louisiana Rural Tech Catalyst Fund (RTCF) Launch; Rural Health Facilities Capital Improvement Program. Strategy alignment: supports care access, workforce, telehealth priorities. State opportunities: 3 active (3 open, 3 past/closed), $5.1M listed funding. Key opportunities: Rural Medicaid Alternative Payment Model Program (Initiative 3); Food is Medicine (FIM) Programs NOFO; Louisiana Rural Tech Catalyst Fund (RTCF) Launch. Strategy alignment: supports care access, prevention, workforce priorities.
RHTP Strategy
Louisiana's RHTP pursues a structured, milestone-driven approach to rural health transformation, led by LDH and focused on regional provider collaboration, workforce development, telehealth and infrastructure modernization, Medicaid value-based care, and integration of nutrition and social interventions. Programs utilize clear eligibility criteria, competitive funding opportunities, phased implementation (2026–2031), and strong outcome tracking to ensure sustainable improvements in rural access, care coordination, and health disparities. The strategy now also includes statewide deployment of a certified EHR for rural providers, with phased onboarding and technical support.
Model
Multi-initiative, centrally coordinated model led by LDH, integrating provider network transformation, rural Medicaid value-based payment, workforce and technology expansion (including EHR and telehealth), facility modernization, and cross-sector partnerships via competitive mechanisms and staged grantmaking.
Key Initiatives
1Rural Clinician Credit Bank to support workforce recruitment and retention in rural healthcare settings
2Rural Collaborative Provider Models Program enabling regional partnerships and shared-service delivery across providers
3Rural Medicaid Alternative Payment Model Program for rural primary care-led value-based payment and care delivery reform
4Telehealth Infrastructure for Rural Access Program to expand and modernize multi-setting telehealth capabilities
5Rural Health Facilities Capital Improvement Program for targeted infrastructure upgrades
6Regional Care Conveners and Navigation Networks to coordinate and integrate medical, behavioral, and social services across hubs and stakeholders
7Food is Medicine Program supporting partnerships between providers and community organizations to integrate nutrition and chronic disease interventions
8State-Managed Rural EHR Implementation: phased onboarding and support for rural providers onto a CMS-certified EHR platform, including systems integration, provider training, and help desk services
Timeline: Program operates January 2026–September 2031 with staged funding and annual application/reporting cycles; initial Year 1 application deadlines occur July–August 2026, with ongoing review and award processes for major initiatives.
Health Priority
Workforce Recruitment & Retention: Rural areas face difficulty attracting and keeping clinicians; the Credit Bank initiative aims to address these recruitment barriers.
Jul 14, 2026
Health Priority
Care Coordination and Fragmentation: Fragmented care delivery across acute, behavioral, and social services impedes patient outcomes; regional navigation networks seek to align providers.
Jul 14, 2026
Health Priority
Infrastructure and Access: Rural Louisiana faces challenges in facility infrastructure and telehealth access, prompting targeted capital and technology investments.
LA - 2026 - Louisiana Department of Health RHTP July 2, 2026
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PrimaryPDF2026Award: $208.4M
Award Announcement Documents (1)
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Award AnnouncementApr 15, 2026PDFPast2025-2030Federal
Louisiana is preparing an application for the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which allocates approximately $200 million per year over five years to the state for rural health infrastructure, workforce, and access. The strategy focuses on high-morbidity, provider shortage areas and emphasizes innovative care models, strategic partnerships, and improving health outcomes. Rural health priorities include heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and tobacco use, all at higher rates than urban areas.
Award: $200.0MQUALITY_IMPROVEMENT · WORKFORCE · HEALTH_INFORMATION_TECHNOLOGY · POPULATION_HEALTH · OTHER
Event Schedule
Program Webinar - 2025-09-19
Program Webinar - 2025-09-25
Letter of Intent Deadline - 2025-09-30
Show all schedule items (5)
Program Webinar - 2025-09-19
Program Webinar - 2025-09-25
Letter of Intent Deadline - 2025-09-30
Application Submission Deadline - 2025-11-05
Expected Award Date - 2025-12-31
Core Initiatives
Transform rural health infrastructure and workforce.
Improve access to care in underserved, high-morbidity, and provider-shortage areas.
Develop innovative care models and foster strategic partnerships.
Application Documents (11)
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ApplicationNEWJul 14, 2026PDF2026
This RFI seeks information to inform Louisiana's statewide EHR implementation for rural providers under LA RHTP, focusing on integration, provider onboarding, and implementation staffing. No funding is announced. The final strategy will guide future EHR partner procurements. Key contacts: ruralhealthtransformation@la.gov
Event schedule:
- Public Notice of RFI - 07/13/2026 - CT
- Deadline for Receipt of RFI Responses - 07/17/2026 - 11:59PM CT
- Optional Vendor Presentations - July 20-29, 2026 - TBD CT
Event schedule:
- requirements. LDH reserves the right to approve, partially fund, defer, or deny any application based on available resources and program considerations. 8 Version 1.0, Published , 2026 - July 2
Event Schedule
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ApplicationJul 3, 2026PDF2026
Guidance Documents (1)
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GuidanceMay 30, 2026PDFEvent2026
This Q&A document provides comprehensive guidance for prospective applicants to the Louisiana Rural Clinician Credit Bank, under the Rural Health Transformation Program. It clarifies allowable and unallowable uses of funds, eligibility rules, service obligations, and detailed budget/match guidance for workforce incentives. The RCCB supports workforce retention and recruitment in rural hospitals and clinics, emphasizing compliance with federal and state requirements.
Event schedule:
- Application Deadline - 06/25/2026 - CT - Louisiana Department of Health application portal
- Rural Clinician Credit Bank Answers to Submitted Questions - 2026-05-29
WORKFORCE · OTHER
Core Initiatives
Increase recruitment and retention of rural clinicians in hard-to-fill and high-turnover positions.
Support rural health workforce stability and provider capacity in underserved Louisiana communities.
Promote compliant, sustainable use of federal incentive funds for rural providers.
This document provides CMS Office of Rural Health Transformation’s official high-level summaries for FY26 proposals from multiple states for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). It describes major funding requests and strategic initiatives to modernize and sustain rural health systems, focusing on access, maternal/infant health, workforce, technology, and care coordination. State-level award amounts are listed for reference; no specific recipient sub-awards are provided.
Core Initiatives
Make Rural America Healthy Again
Expand access to care
Improve maternal, infant, and chronic disease outcomes
Show all initiatives (30)
Make Rural America Healthy Again
Expand access to care
Improve maternal, infant, and chronic disease outcomes
Build and retain rural health workforce
Adopt innovative technology and models
Advance value-based and coordinated care
Empower rural Mainers to achieve their own healthy living goals through expanded population health solutions
Expand the supply of care by growing a rural workforce and spreading technologies that connect every community to advanced care
Ensure care will be available and affordable long into Maine’s future by pairing affordability measures with strategies that advance quality, efficiency, and fiscal durability such as value-based payments
Transform the rural health workforce in Maryland through new apprenticeships, improved IT, and expansion of Area Health Education Centers and pipeline programs
Promote sustainable access and innovative care through new and expanded capacity for primary care, specialty practices, school-based health centers, and behavioral health expansion
Transform healthcare access and quality in New Mexico's rural areas through specialty care expansion, chronic disease management, workforce pipeline strengthening, and community-centered care
Catalyze innovative care models, transform the rural care experience, and create a sustainable rural healthcare delivery system in North Carolina via provider coordination and underlying systems change
Improve access to care through clinically integrated networks (CINs), community-based clinics in K-12 schools and college campuses, and mobile health care services, rural hospital improvements, and home visits.
Louisiana will receive over $208 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program, one of the highest awards in the nation and top three in the Southeast. The program supports rural health transformation and Medicaid in Louisiana.
Event schedule:
- Starting , 2027, a new federal law requires some adults on Medicaid to report community engagement activities, commonly known as work requirements, to keep their Medicaid coverage. - January 1 - Immediate Emotional Support
- , 2026 - MAY 06 - LDH urges residents to practice safe swimming and water safety
- , 2026 - MAY 04 - Louisiana water system grades show continued improvement in 2025
- , 2026 - APRIL 22 - LDH confirms measles case in Region 1
- , 2026 - APRIL 20 - Governor Landry, LDH Secretary Greenstein encourage residents to seek emotional support after Shreveport shooting
This FAQ clarifies eligible organizations, allowable and non-allowable costs, performance metrics, and rural eligibility for the Louisiana Telehealth Infrastructure for Rural Access Program NOFO. Applicants may propose telehealth projects addressing primary care, maternal health, behavioral health, chronic disease management, and specialty referrals. Strategic NOFOs will be released in mid-July with awards announced in August.
Event schedule:
- Strategic NOFO Release - 07/15/2026
- Application Deadline/Review - 08/15/2026
- Award Notification - 08/25/2026
Event schedule:
- Rural Health Transformation Program Updates , 2026 - June 4 - Stevens Amendment This project supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as...
- Active NOFOs W ORKFORCE MRAHA S USTAINABLE A CCESS Rural Clinician Credit Bank Telehealth Rural Health Infrastructure for Facilities Capital Rural Access Improvement Applications Due: Program , 2026 - June 25 - 1:00 p...
Other Documents (2)
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OtherMay 16, 2026PDF
Announcement of a Rural Health Transformation Summit in Louisiana to foster innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in rural health. The event includes networking sessions and presentations on funding and strategies to improve rural health outcomes.
Event schedule:
- Rural Health Transformation Summit - 06/11/2026 - Natchitoches Events Center, 750 Second Street, Natchitoches, LA
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OtherApr 15, 2026PDF2025-2031
Louisiana submits a robust Rural Health Transformation Program (LA RHTP) application to CMS to comprehensively transform rural health systems for Louisiana’s 1.1 million rural residents. The strategy centers on workforce expansion, digital modernization (including a statewide shared CMS-certified EHR), innovative payment reform, community collaboration, and targeted population health efforts for chronic disease, maternal health, behavioral, and cancer priorities. The plan details proposed investments of $485M over five years for workforce, technology, care delivery, and financial stabilization.
Spreadsheets, data exports, and reference documents — available for download but excluded from the main activity feed. Showing the 40 most recent of 80.
LA - 2026 - Collaborative Provider Budget Workbook
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LA - 2026 - Budget Workbook Care Convener (RHTP_Budget_Workbook_FoodisMedicine)
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LA - 2026 - Budget Workbook Care Convener
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LA - 2026 - Collaborative Provider Budget Workbook
Initiative 3 APM Applicant Budget Template
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LA - 2026 - Full Announcement
Prior version (Version 1.0, superseded)
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LA - 2026 - Collaborative Provider Budget Workbook
Prior budget workbook (superseded)
LA - 2026 - Louisiana Rural Health Facilities Capital Improvement Program NOFO
LA - 2026 - Full Announcement
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LA - 2026 - RHTP: Rural Eligibility Definition and Methodology
LA - 2026 - RHTP: Rural Eligibility Definition and Methodology
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LA - 2026 - An official website of the State of Louisiana. Here’s how you know
Official LDH RHTP funding opportunities page
SupportingPDF2026No amount extracted
LA - 2026 - Louisiana CapitalNOFO RHTP Application
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ReferencePDF2026No amount extracted
LA - 2026 - Questions & Answers Regarding the Capital Improvement Funding
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requirements. LDH reserves the right to approve, partially fund, defer, or deny any application based on available resources and program considerations. 8 Version 1.0, Published , 2026 - July 2
Improve health outcomes through expansions of behavioral health services.
Improve chronic disease health outcomes such as reduced A1C and increased levels of hypertension management.
Expand technology to build remote monitoring and telehealth, expand electronic medical record (EMR) usage for pharmacists, and pilot innovative screening technologies for chronic management.
Build a future where every community has access to high-quality, locally grounded care connected through technology, supported by regional collaboration and sustained by a strong rural workforce.
Reduce preventable hospitalizations and emergency department visits year over year.
Build a resilient, digitally connected, community-anchored provider network to deliver flexible care across rural regions.
Design data-driven solutions tailored to the unique needs of rural residents.
Advance whole-person health through connected care technologies and coordinated pathways for behavioral health, chronic disease, maternal health, and social needs.
Promote sustainable access by focusing on integration and comprehensive delivery of services leveraging technology and supporting workforce.
Increase healthcare access and quality for improved chronic disease management and health outcomes for rural communities.
Increase healthcare workforce participation and capacity in rural areas.
Make rural populations healthier through nutrition, wellness, workforce development, technology innovation and care coordination.
Promote food as medicine and innovative maternal care to reduce chronic disease and maternal health deserts in rural communities.
Address workforce participation barriers, geographic challenges, and healthcare system sustainability.
Leverage advanced technology including AI and telehealth to improve rural healthcare access and quality.
Support rural clinical workforce and build resilient local delivery system infrastructure.
This Louisiana FAQ document provides detailed guidance to prospective applicants for the Rural Health Facilities Capital Improvement Program under RHTP, clarifying eligible applicants, allowable uses of funds, ineligible activities, and documentation for 'rural' determination. Key points include a $10 million per-project budget cap, a required 10% minimum match (cash or in-kind), and eligibility of rural hospitals, clinics, FQHCs, dental practices, EMS, and more. The FAQ emphasizes measurable improvements in rural access, quality, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
Event schedule:
- Strategic NOFO Release Deadline - 07/15/2026
- Anticipated Award Notification - 08/20/2026
- Year 1 Project Start (est., upon Cooperative Endeavor Agreement execution) - 09/01/2026
- Year 1 Funds Final Expenditure Deadline - 09/30/2027
Year 1 Project Start (est., upon Cooperative Endeavor Agreement execution) - 09/01/2026
Show all schedule items (4)
Strategic NOFO Release Deadline - 07/15/2026
Anticipated Award Notification - 08/20/2026
Year 1 Project Start (est., upon Cooperative Endeavor Agreement execution) - 09/01/2026
Year 1 Funds Final Expenditure Deadline - 09/30/2027
Core Initiatives
Expand rural healthcare facility capacity and service access
Improve quality, operational efficiency, and sustainability of rural providers
Support infrastructure modernization and measurable improvements in rural health outcomes
Event Schedule
Rural Health Transformation Program Updates , 2026 - June 4 - Stevens Amendment This project supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as...
Active NOFOs W ORKFORCE MRAHA S USTAINABLE A CCESS Rural Clinician Credit Bank Telehealth Rural Health Infrastructure for Facilities Capital Rural Access Improvement Applications Due: Program , 2026 - June 25 - 1:00 p...