Federal

This document announces the FY2026 federal grant allocations for all 50 states under the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program, created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Each state's RHTP award, totaling $10 billion across the US, supports rural health transformation initiatives spanning workforce, technology, population health, payment reform, and rural Medicaid.

This document compiles State-level abstracts from Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) applications submitted in December 2025. Each abstract summarizes the purpose, anticipated outcomes, major partners, and proposed program activities to be implemented with RHTP funds under the federal initiative. The document presents illustrative budgets, details of transformation plans, and a wide array of strategic approaches but is intended for public information and does not reflect final awards.

This draft CMS webinar provides detailed guidance on RHT Program state-level annual and quarterly reporting requirements. It outlines program timelines, required templates, the rescoring process for funding decisions, and the shift from Excel to a web-based reporting tool for states. No specific state- or initiative-level data is included, as this is a general federal instructional document.

This FAQ document provides post-award guidance for states participating in the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) under CMS oversight. It covers budget management, reporting requirements, allowed changes to initiatives, and workforce-related provisions including rural service obligations and non-compete restrictions. Key reminders include strict use of funds, checkpoint-based progress assessment, and ongoing compliance with CMS review procedures.

The document establishes the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a $50 billion initiative appropriated for FY2026-2030. It outlines state eligibility requirements, transformation plan components, authorized activity types, milestones, the distribution and use of funds, and financial provisions. The program's primary focus is on rural health systems, with substantial emphasis on hospitals, technology, workforce, and access.

This fact sheet provides guidance on allowable and unallowable uses of Category B Provider Payments under the Rural Health Transformation Program. It outlines restrictions, sustainability requirements, and the 15% cap on Category B funding, as well as allowable example expenditures tied to state RHT transformation plan initiatives. The document clarifies payment models and directs states to ensure RHTP funds do not duplicate existing programs.

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a $50 billion initiative authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, aims to transform rural healthcare nationwide by supporting state-based innovation, sustainability, workforce development, care coordination, and technology advancement. The program will fund approved states from FY2026 to FY2030, with application and award timelines set for late 2025. Strategic goals include improving rural health access, fostering tech solutions, and enabling innovative care and workforce models.

This document provides an overview of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a $50 billion initiative created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to transform care and improve outcomes in rural communities. It summarizes eligible use of funds, program strategic goals, and application requirements, and provides a timeline for application and awardee selection. Key goals include prevention and chronic disease management, workforce development, behavioral health, and technology advancement.

This policy paper analyzes capital access challenges facing rural hospitals and other rural health facilities. It presents an overview of major capital funding programs and historical trends, emphasizing the complexity of blended financing and persistent access barriers. The report highlights the importance of technical assistance, partnerships, and varied funding streams for sustaining and modernizing rural healthcare infrastructure.

This CMS transmittal implements the waiver of the traditional Medicare 3-day inpatient hospital stay requirement for skilled nursing facility (SNF) coverage under TEAM. The TEAM model is mandatory for selected hospitals from 2026 to 2030 and aims to drive efficiency and quality improvements in post-acute transitions, particularly for rural and safety net hospitals and their patients. The policy includes guidance for contractors and provider education channels. Key contacts: Valeri Ritter Valeri.Ritter@cms.hhs.gov; Janice Maxwell janice.maxwell@cms.hhs.gov; Jonathan Rudy Jonathan.rudy@cms.hhs.gov; Agnelli Sybel Agnelli.Sybel@cms.hhs.gov Event schedule: - TEAM program start date - 01/01/2026 - Implementation date for MACs - 01/05/2026

The Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project (RHPTP) is a federal grant program administered by HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. This project offered technical assistance to eligible small rural hospitals and rural health clinics to strengthen their value-based care foundations, focusing on quality, efficiency, patient experience, and safety. The program recognized that while some rural providers already participate in value-based programs, others need foundational support before joining such initiatives.