Utah

This Utah DHHS Primary Care & Rural Health newsletter highlights new grant opportunities from FORHP to support rural hospitals with finance, workforce, and access to care. Utah is recognized for leadership in oral health integration, and a local clinic manager is honored for rural service. The newsletter shares workforce certification initiatives and SUD-focused events to strengthen rural provider capacity. Event schedule: - Carrying the Work Forward: A SUD Training and Quick Reference for Rural Clinic Teams - 07/17/2026 - 12:00 PM MST - University of Utah, Project ECHO webinar (registration link provided)

Utah was awarded nearly $196 million from CMS for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program. This historic federal investment aims to catalyze system-wide transformation in rural Utah, focusing on access, quality, workforce, infrastructure, and technology. Utah's comprehensive plan aligns with CMS guidance and features seven key initiatives across four strategic goals. Key contacts: ruralht@utah.gov Event schedule: - CMS Award Announcement - 12/29/2025 - Utah RHTP Application Submission - November 5, 2025 - RHTP Informational Webinar - 07/13/2026 - MT - Google Meet - FAST Initiative 4.1 RFGA Webinar - 06/29/2026 - PATH Initiative 1.5 RFGA Webinar - 06/18/2026 - RHTP Informational Webinar - 06/26/2026 - Application Deadline for RISE 2.5: Recruit and Retain - 08/04/2026 - 5:00 p.m. MT

Event schedule: - ‹#› Application deadline: , 2026 at 5:00 p.m. MT Late applications will not be considered One application per entity is allowed for this RFGA Funding source: 100% federal funds (RHTP) Questions regarding this RFGA? Em... - ‹#› Agreement Period: Anticipated , 2026 to September 30, 2027. Agreements may be extended contingent on project progress and the availability of funds. Funding Available: Up to $20M total in Budget Period 1 Expected... - ‹#› Future questions regarding this RFGA: email ruralht@utah.gov Q&A here : RISE: 2.5 Recruit and Retain RFGA Q&A document Deadline to submit questions: , 2026 at 5:00 p.m. MT Final Q&A page update: August... - REMINDER: Application Deadline Tuesday , , 2026 5:00 p.m. MT ‹#› - August 4 - --- Slide 27 ---

Utah DHHS is seeking a consortium lead to implement capital infrastructure, financial, and technology transformation initiatives in rural Utah using up to $291.8M in RHTP federal funds over five years. Programs must support outreach to all rural stakeholders, with focus on tribal and underserved populations. Key contacts: Utah RHTP Team ruralht@utah.gov Event schedule: - Letter of Intent Deadline - 07/27/2026 - 5:00 PM MT - Question Submission Deadline - 08/05/2026 - 5:00 PM MT - Final Q&A Update - 08/06/2026 - 5:00 PM MT - Application Deadline - 08/07/2026 - 5:00 PM MT - Anticipated Award Start Date - 09/11/2026 - MT - DHHS notifies all applicants of award decision - 2026-08-26 - Notice of Award - 2025-12-29

Event schedule: - Notice of Award - 2025-12-29 - America/Denver - N/A - Award Decision Notification - 2026-08-04 - America/Denver - N/A

This CMS summary details high-level FY26 RHTP applications from more than a dozen states, each proposing major investments in rural hospital and Medicaid transformation. State plans emphasize telehealth, care integration, workforce development, behavioral and maternal health, and digital health infrastructure as core approaches for rural health system improvement. Award amounts per state (e.g., $203M Alabama, $272M Alaska) are reported at the state level, not for individual recipients.

Utah received a $195.7 million federal award for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Program, launching 7 initiatives and 24 activities statewide. The program targets population health, workforce development, infrastructure innovation, and financial sustainability for rural hospitals and Medicaid providers. Most funds are distributed via a combination of state agreements and competitive grants, with multiple recipient awards already obligated and more to be released. Key contacts: Krisann Humphreys; Christine Espinel Event schedule: - CMS Site Visit - 07/16/2026 - MT - Utah - CMS Site Visit - 07/17/2026 - MT - Utah - Annual Progress Report and Year 2 Application Deadline - 08/30/2026 - MT - End of Budget Period 1 / Obligation of Funds Deadline - 10/30/2026 - MT

The document describes Utah Flex and SHIP programs funded by HRSA to support rural hospitals in Utah, focusing on financial, operational, and quality improvements. Utah Flex ensures high quality healthcare is available in rural communities, while SHIP provides purchasing assistance and quality improvement support for small rural and critical access hospitals.

The document clarifies registration requirements for applicants, indicating that state or federal registration is not necessary before applying and will be handled post-award. It explains how the LINCS 7.3-7.4 initiative supports value-based care by standardizing disparate EHR data and facilitating robust interoperability for rural providers. DHHS will coordinate grantees to maximize efficiency and avoid duplicated efforts.

The program includes the Utah Primary Care Grants Program, Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Utah Flex), Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP), and various loan repayment and workforce support programs. It is administered by the State Office of Rural Health and collaborates with multiple entities to enhance rural health workforce, primary care, and hospital sustainability.