Massachusetts was awarded $162 million in 2025 to advance three overarching goals: expanding access to essential healthcare services for rural residents, improving health and well-being through targeted initiatives and partnerships, and strengthening systems, policies, and investments to meet rural needs. The program is structured around seven initiatives addressing population health advancement, innovative care models, workforce development, community prevention, EMS integration, technology enhancement, and facility modernization.
Massachusetts was awarded $162 million for the first-year Rural Health Transformation Program award in December 2025. The state is currently organizing community advisory councils and workgroups and conducting outreach, but has not yet issued procurement opportunities to local providers or subrecipients.
RHTP Strategy
Implement seven strategic initiatives focused on infrastructure improvement, innovative care models, workforce development, community prevention, EMS integration, technology interoperability, and facility modernization to transform rural healthcare.
Key Initiatives
1Population Health Advancement
2Innovation in Rural Care Models
3Training Healthcare for Retention, Innovation, & Excellence (THRIVE)
4Healthy Rural Communities
5EMS Service Integration
6Enhancing Technology Interoperability and Connectivity
7Facility Modernization & Re-Use
Timeline: Funding awarded in December 2025; ongoing implementation with future updates planned
Health Priority
Healthcare Access and Outcomes: Rural communities face disparities due to limited providers, aging infrastructure, chronic disease burdens, workforce shortages, and financial instability. (Regions: Rural 1, Rural 2, 18 rural clusters)
May 30, 2026
Health Priority
Workforce Development: Targeted activities focus on recruitment, retention, and strengthening the healthcare workforce in rural areas. (Regions: Rural Massachusetts)
May 30, 2026
Health Priority
Technological Infrastructure: Investments aimed at improving technology interoperability and connectivity to support better outcomes in rural health providers. (Regions: Rural Massachusetts)
This CMS summary covers FY26 RHTP applications by 15+ states, each proposing comprehensive transformation of rural health care systems. Common foci include significant investments in digital modernization, telehealth infrastructure, and workforce pipelines. All states aim to reduce rural disparities in access, maternal and chronic disease outcomes, behavioral health, and financial viability for rural hospitals and clinics.
Budget: $3K
Core Initiatives
Improve rural health access and outcomes
Develop and sustain rural healthcare workforce
Promote telehealth, digital modernization, and technology-enabled care
Show all initiatives (51)
Improve rural health access and outcomes
Develop and sustain rural healthcare workforce
Promote telehealth, digital modernization, and technology-enabled care
Enhance population health and chronic disease prevention
Support value-based and innovative care models
Expand behavioral health and maternal health initiatives
Empower rural residents to achieve healthy living goals through expanded population health solutions
Expand the supply of care by growing a rural workforce and spreading technologies that improve coordination
Ensure care availability and affordability long-term by pairing affordability measures with quality, efficiency, and fiscal durability strategies
Address disparities in chronic disease management, behavioral health, workforce access, and healthcare delivery in rural populations
Strengthen rural healthcare systems through integrated, community-driven solutions
Improve cardiometabolic health outcomes and sustain healthcare workforce expansion
Establish coordinated regional integrated systems to reduce fragmentation and improve care continuity
Build statewide networks of rural healthcare hubs to expand access and improve healthcare outcomes
Strengthen healthcare workforce and provider financial stability while expanding technology use
Right-size healthcare systems and promote food-as-medicine programs
Improve chronic disease management and access to care via value-based care models and workforce recruitment
Uncategorized Documents (2)
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Massachusetts was awarded $162 million in 2025 to advance three overarching goals: expanding access to essential healthcare services for rural residents, improving health and well-being through targeted initiatives and partnerships, and strengthening systems, policies, and investments to meet rural needs. The program is structured around seven initiatives addressing population health advancement, innovative care models, workforce development, community prevention, EMS integration, technology enhancement, and facility modernization.
Core Initiatives
Expand access to essential healthcare services for rural residents
Improve health and well-being through targeted initiatives and partnerships
Strengthen systems, policies, and investments to meet the unique needs of rural communities
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The Executive Office of Health and Human Services led an interagency team to develop the application with departments including Public Health, MassHealth, and the Office of Rural Health, as well as the Executive Office of Economic Development’s Office of Rural Affairs. The application development involved input and feedback from many state partners. The program aims to improve healthcare across rural Massachusetts.
Advance prevention-oriented strategies across behavioral health, perinatal care, chronic disease, oral health, and primary care
Foster flexible healthcare systems responsive to community input and improving rural healthcare availability
Transform healthcare access and quality in rural areas through specialty care expansion and workforce pipelines
Improve chronic disease management, maternal and child health, and care coordination
Catalyze innovative care models and create sustainable rural healthcare delivery systems
Focus on workforce development, new technologies, and chronic disease prevention in frontier and rural areas
Improve access to care through clinically integrated networks (CINs), community-based clinics in K-12 schools and college campuses to provide comprehensive improvements, and home visits.
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 disease.
Build a future where every community – no matter how small or remote – has access to high-quality, locally grounded care connected through technology, regional collaboration, and 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.
Establish financially sustainable care models through shared clinical, data, and administrative resources.
Promote sustainable access focusing on integration and comprehensive delivery of services, leveraging technology and supporting the workforce.
Increase technology utilization to promote access and leverage interoperability and data exchange.
Strengthen the workforce through rural clinical placements and policies that allow top-of-license practice.
Increase healthcare access and quality for improved chronic disease management and health outcomes.
Improve digital health literacy in rural communities.
Address key barriers to access, quality and sustainability in rural health care.
Prioritize direct investment in provider capacity over creating new programs.
Establish regional maternal and infant health hubs to reduce disparities and improve access.
Implement Medicaid Primary Accountable Care Transformation with alternative payment models incentivizing quality outcomes.
Support patients with high disease burden and offer integrated, technology-enabled non-emergency medical transportation.
Leverage state-wide technology initiatives, support rural clinical workforce, establish clinically integrated networks (CINs), and empower patients on disease prevention and healthy living.
Focus on wellness and nutrition initiatives, support rural clinical workforce, leverage technology, and improve access to care.
Improve primary care and long-term support leveraging technology, new networks, workforce development, and innovative solutions.
Focus on patient empowerment and disease prevention with emphasis on expanding access, technology, and workforce development.
Address substance use disorder, high hospital staff turnover, emergency room strain by expanding rural health networks, technology investment, and value-based payment models.
Improve workforce participation, leverage technology, and improve healthcare system sustainability by addressing geographic barriers and other challenges.
Improve rural health care with emphasis on care coordination, mental health support, technology use, and workforce development.
Improve access to care by focusing on rural clinical workforce, technology adoption, and right-sizing delivery system.