Rhode Island

The mini-grant program funds recruitment, retention, and administrative support to increase capacity for Medicaid primary care in Rhode Island through tiered funding allocations and compliance requirements. Event schedule: - Program Funds Expiration - 12/31/2025 - Rhode Island

In June 2025, Rhode Island awarded $6,695,000 in grants to 85 primary care practices to support the recruitment and retention of primary care providers. The funding was allocated in three tiers targeting Medicaid-enrolled providers and new Medicaid enrollments to enhance access to primary care across the state. Key contacts: ohhs.medicaidprogramcao@ohhs.ri.gov Event schedule: - Grant Awards Announcement - June 2025 - Rhode Island - Grant Funds Expenditure Deadline - 12/31/2025 - Rhode Island

This application invites primary care practices in Rhode Island to apply for mini-grants aimed at increasing access to primary care and building practice capacity. The grant funding is tiered based on Medicaid enrollment and includes reporting requirements with deadlines throughout 2025. Event schedule: - Tier 1 status report due - 08/15/2025 - Tier 1 final report due - 12/31/2025 - Tier 2 status report due - 09/19/2025 - Tier 2 final report due - 12/31/2025 - Tier 3 documentation due - 12/31/2025

Rhode Island received $156.2 million for Year 1 RHTP implementation to fund 13 multi-dimensional rural health transformation initiatives. Projects span population health, EMS, value-based care, workforce recruitment, behavioral health, and technology modernization. Focus populations include 18 rural towns and the Narragansett Indian Tribe, with engagement from statewide partners and community organizations.

This document details the structure, responsibilities, and membership criteria for Rhode Island's Rural Stakeholder Advisory Council as part of the RHTP. The council serves as a statewide advisory body integrating feedback from Networks and Regional Hubs, and supports responsive rural health transformation implementation. Broad representation and conflict-of-interest practices are emphasized to ensure accountability and equitable input from rural communities.

Rhode Island is investing opioid settlement, Medicaid, and federal funds in a comprehensive continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery strategies, with an emphasis on school-based mental health, access to naloxone, and improving equity. Over 100 program contracts are in place, with robust data-driven evaluation and continuous review of outcome indicators. Major funds are allocated to recovery supports, school and community-based prevention, and harm reduction infrastructure.

Rhode Island’s Primary Care Training Sites Program awarded approximately $2M in grant funding to 34 practices to expand clinical training capacity. The program expects a 68% increase in clinical training capacity in 2025-2026 as measured by student enrollment. Strategic grantmaking supports workforce pipeline, patient-centered care, and integration of behavioral health.

Rhode Island secured a $156 million 5-year RHTP award with $142.7 million planned for SFYs 2026-27. The budget funds thirteen initiatives targeting value-based payment transition, rural workforce development, health IT modernization, behavioral health expansion, and innovative care delivery models.

Rhode Island RHTP plans to strengthen access to high-quality, sustainable community-driven care in rural and island areas. The $1 billion five-year program covers 13 interconnected initiatives that target clinical care hubs, EMS, workforce, value-based care, and technology integration.

This is a CMS Office of Rural Health Transformation summary of FY26 applications across multiple states. Each state proposes large-scale, comprehensive initiatives spanning quality improvement, hospital and workforce stabilization, maternal/child health, chronic disease, behavioral health, and technology modernization. Summaries include federal funding amounts by state but not for sub-recipients.

The program focuses on integrated community care, expanding services through FQHCs, mobile health and EMS investments, addressing opioid crisis with recovery centers, workforce development, hospital-at-home expansion, value-based care models, and health IT modernization. It was developed with extensive community input and partnerships, including engagement with the Narragansett Indian Tribe and Block Island communities. Event schedule: - RHTP Application Submission Date - 11/13/2025 - 2:54 PM ET - Providence, RI

Rhode Island is launching a Rural Stakeholder Advisory Council to guide its Rural Health Transformation Program, focusing on improving rural health access, workforce, and outcomes. The Council will ensure community and stakeholder input are central to program implementation. Membership is intended to be broad and representative of all major rural health constituents. Key contacts: Kilah Walters-Clinton Kilah.WaltersClinton@ohhs.ri.gov Event schedule: - Education Session - 05/29/2026 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Microsoft Teams

This FAQ provides detailed guidance for rural and Medicaid-enrolled primary care practices in Rhode Island seeking 2025 Primary Care Mini Grants. Awards of up to $75,000 (Tier 1) and $300,000 (Tier 2) will support workforce recruitment and retention in accredited PCMH practices, with specific guidelines for eligibility, reporting, and allowable uses (including retention bonuses). Patient panel growth and provider recruitment are key metrics. Event schedule: - Application deadline - 05/16/2025 - ET - Awards Notification (estimated) - June 2025 - ET

Acknowledgement of interest form submission for Rhode Island RHTP listserv inclusion.

The program collaborates with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, state agencies, hospitals, healthcare professionals, and community partners to transform healthcare delivery. Rhode Island received a federal award of over $156 million to support this initiative. The program focuses on supporting local providers and improving rural healthcare infrastructure with funding from CMS for fiscal years 2026-2030.