Wisconsin

This RFA opportunity supports rural dental providers in upgrading technology to increase efficiency and patient access. The program targets persistent gaps in rural oral health care through investment in digital tools and workflow improvements. Eligible applicants are encouraged to propose strategies that directly address local needs. Event schedule: - Investing in Dental Care Technology: Grants to Improve Rural Dental Efficiency and Access - Wisconsin Department of Health Services Skip to main content An official website of the State of Wisconsin Here’s how you know Here’s how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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Dental practices, particularly in more rural areas of the state, face challenges that result in reduced access to care. These challenges include high rates of uninsured patients, low and unpredictable patient volumes, dental workforce shortages, and limited capital resources to adopt innovative technologies. This funding opportunity seeks to address these challenges through increased access to dental technological innovations, which improve dental services in rural Wisconsin by increasing the speed of appointments while maintaining quality of care. This funding will allow dental practices to purchase technologies to deliver high-quality and efficient services. Applicants may apply to multiple Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding opportunities for which their organizations are eligible. Download the full grant funding opportunity and addenda (PDF) Application release June 15, 2026 Application submission due July 27, 2026 Application questions due June 26, 2026. Responses will be posted within one week. Please send questions to: DHSRuralHealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov , and place Dental Application Questions in the Subject line. Estimated date for award notification September 2026 Estimated funding The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) will award up to $10 million for this funding opportunity, pending CMS approval. Award period 11/1/2026 – 9/30/2028 Total funding available $10,000,000 (pending CMS approval) Number of available awards The number of available awards will be determined by the variety and scope of projects submitted. Awards will be made to ensure distribution across regions and counties, with an emphasis on rural communities. Award amount Award amounts will vary based on the total number of applications received and the scope of the projects submitted. DHS will negotiate the terms of the award, including the award amount, with selected applicants prior to entering into a contract. Application submission All applications must be submitted online through the Investing in Dental Technology Application form. Background The Wisconsin Rural Health Transformation Program is focused on improving healthcare access and health outcomes in rural communities across Wisconsin. This funding opportunity is part of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a federal funding opportunity provided to states through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) received a first-year award from CMS for $203,670,005.21 to invest in rural capacity, sustainability, and innovation. The program aims to improve access to care through three initiatives: strengthening the healthcare workforce, enhancing technology innovation, and cultivating coordinated care partnerships. Through collaboration among healthcare providers, public health agencies, and community-based organizations, the program seeks to improve health and well-being in rural communities. Purpose Through this funding opportunity, DHS aims to address these challenges by subsidizing the purchase of dental technologies to make care more available to people in rural Wisconsin. These technologies can reduce appointment times, increase patient service volumes, improve patient comfort, and maximize the existing dental workforce. Funding will support the provider's adoption of eligible dental technologies that would otherwise be cost prohibitive. The goals of the Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Program are to: Increase access to dental care, particularly for underserved populations in rural and semi-rural Wisconsin who are lower income, uninsured, have Medicaid dental coverage, and/or who otherwise have difficulty seeing a dental provider. Strengthen the sustainability of dental practices in rural and semi-rural areas. Improve oral health outcomes for rural residents. Program Requirements Dental providers applying for this funding opportunity must meet all the following requirements: Provide services that benefit people living in rural and semi-rural areas of Wisconsin, outside of metropolitan hubs. See Addendum Exhibit 1 for a definition of rural counties. Use grant funds to purchase eligible dental technologies. All proposed technologies must be clearly linked to increased efficiency, expanded access, and improved service delivery. Describe clear strategies to provide care to patients with Medicaid coverage or others with limited resources to access dental care (e.g. low-income and uninsured). As described in the Application Questions section, applicants must clearly describe how grant funds will be used, what technologies will be purchased, and how the grant will meet community needs. Reporting Requirements: Evaluation A combination of quantitative and qualitative data will be required quarterly and annually for state and federal evaluation purposes. Providers will be asked to report on the number and percentage of patients served with limited resources to access dental care (e.g. low-income and uninsured), and who have Medicaid coverage at baseline and annually throughout the life of the grant. Eligible Applicants Applicants must provide services in Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee County and be one of the following serving a rural or semi-rural community (see Addendum Exhibit 1 for a definition of semi-rural and rural counties): A private, non-profit, or public dental clinic or dental practice A Federally Qualified Health Center that provides dental care A nonprofit organization providing dental services A public or Tribal dental clinic Funding Availability Submission does not guarantee funding within this opportunity. This allows DHS to assess capacity of interested parties to conduct the work outlined in the scope of work. DHS reserves the right not to award funding to any applicant, and to award fewer or more grants than initially indicated. DHS also reserves the right to award grants for less than an applicant’s proposed amount. DHS may award additional funding if more funding becomes available. Should additional funding become available at any point during the grant period, DHS reserves the right to use the results of this grant funding opportunity to increase funding to the selected agencies or to fund additional agencies that submitted an application but were not selected. DHS uses a cost-based reimbursement model that limits reimbursement to actual allowable incurred costs. If funding is awarded, expenses can be submitted for reimbursement only after they have been incurred. Allowable Costs Grant recipients will be required to comply with the DHS Allowable Cost Policy Manual and all applicable state and federal reporting, fiscal, and audit requirements, including those incorporated through Exhibit 2: Federal Compliance Requirements Rural Health Transformation Program. Applicants must clearly describe how grant funds will be used, what technologies will be purchased, and how the grant will meet community needs. The following allowable and unallowable costs and activities are provided as examples only and are not intended to be exhaustive. Allowable Costs and Activities (examples) Grant funds may be used to purchase equipment and systems that improve efficiency, reduce appointment times, increase patient service volume, enhance patient comfort, and expand access to care. Eligible technologies may include, but are not limited to: Ultrasonic or hypersonic scaling systems Digital intraoral scanners Tele-dentistry platforms Portable or mobile dental equipment for outreach services Automated instrument processing and sterilization systems AI-enabled dentistry tools to improve cavity and decay detection Updated electronic dental record systems Virtual appointment reminder and digital systems for dental patient paperwork Other. If proposing a technology not listed above, applicants must explain why that technology should be considered. Technologies not listed above will be subject to review by DHS to determine if the request meets the goals of the grant. Meeting expenses directly related to the project (meeting room, audiovisual (AV) equipment, travel, speakers, etc.) and in accordance with federal limitations Infrastructure directly related to the program, such as billing and/or fiscal infrastructure, technology for billing and tracking services, and administrative support Office supplies, postage, copying, etc. related to the project Consultant, contractor, and/or training services needed to implement the project Unallowable Costs and Activities (examples) Pre-award costs Direct or indirect lobbying activities Duplicate payments: Funds may not be used to replace payment for clinical services that could be reimbursed by insurance, or used for payments to clinical services if they duplicate billable services and/or attempt to change the payment amounts of existing fee schedules No funds may be used to support salaries, wages, or fringe benefits for this funding opportunity Replacing or duplicating existing funding sources. For example, if funds are used for expanding an existing pilot program or initiative, funds may only be applied to the costs associated with the new population, new activities, new program milestones, etc. The original program's programmatic costs, administrative expenses, and activities must continue to be funded by those original sources. Clinical care such as health screening, patient care, personal health services, medications, patient rehabilitation, and other costs associated with treatment and direct care are not permitted under this grant funding opportunity Costs or activities not directly related to the overall project description and scope of work Independent research and development, including associated indirect costs in accordance with 2 CFR 300.477 Construction or building expansion, purchasing or significant retrofitting of buildings, cosmetic upgrades, or any other direct costs that materially increase the value or useful life of the capital Meals, unless in limited circumstances such as subjects and patients under study, if specifically approved as part of the project or program activity, or as part of a per diem in conjunction with allowable travel Projects outside of Wisconsin Administrative Cost Limits and Determinations No more than 8% of the award amount may be used for administrative expenses. This is based on CMS requirements: a 10% cap is applied to the cumulative administrative costs for the entire program, including those incurred by both the state and any subrecipients. Personnel costs associated with administering RHTP grant activities may be considered administrative costs. In contrast, if staff are directly carrying out program initiatives, the cost may be considered programmatic. Administrative costs support the day-to-day operations and general grant oversight. These costs generally include indirect costs, audit expenses, and salary and fringe benefits for personnel whose primary responsibilities involve managing, tracking, and overseeing the grant. More information is available in Addendum Exhibit 3: Budget Instructions. Allowable Costs for Construction and Renovations Under federal grant regulations, alteration and renovation must be necessary and reasonable for performance of the award and directly related to program objectives. Any renovation or alteration costs will require prior approval from CMS. RHTP staff will submit required renovations requests to CMS for approval on behalf of grantees prior to purchase or start of work. Renovations may not proceed until written approval is received. Additionally, no more than 20% of the total award can be spent on minor alterations and renovations. See Exhibit 2: Federal Compliance Requirements for more information. Application Submission The application can be accessed through the Investing in Dental Technology Application form and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on July 27, 2026. Only applications submitted through this link will be considered. Applications must include: Responses to the statements in the Application Questions section. Any information beyond the page limit will not be read, reviewed, or scored. Proposed budget and justification Letters of support from each partner with an active role in the project The budget, justification, and letters of support do not count toward the narrative response word limit. Organizations may request technical assistance for preparing their applications from the University of Wisconsin-Population Health Institute, Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, and Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality. Technical assistance can be requested for describing local health needs using community data, accessing information to quantify the local health context, project evaluation planning, and/or developing performance measures. These partners have no input on funding decisions. To learn more, send a request to RHTP-evaluation@wisc.edu . Applicants should reach out directly to DHS at DHSRuralHealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov for questions regarding technical difficulties with the application submission process. Please note that questions about the funding opportunity, including eligibility requirements, budgets, allowable and unallowable expenses, must be submitted by June 26, 2026, and will be answered through published FAQs. Application Questions CONTACT AND SUMMARY Name and address of lead organization applying Contact information for the primary point of contact regarding this application First Name Last Name Email Counties or Tribal Nations where services will be provided for this project Provide a brief executive summary of your project (three to four sentences or less than 100 words). This section is not scored. NARRATIVE RESPONSE Section 1: Program Design (Maximum 1,000 words) Describe how grant funds will be used to improve efficiency and expand access to dental services in rural and semi-rural communities. Responses must include: A list of clinics, including addresses, where technologies will be implemented. Clinics located in rural counties will receive a higher score than clinics located in semi-rural counties that serve a portion of rural residents. See Addendum Exhibit 1. An implementation plan that details: A list of the technology (or technologies) to be purchased. A timeline and strategy for purchasing the technology, training staff on use, and integrating into routine clinic operations. How your organization will maintain and sustain the technology (such as through staffing, budgeting, and long-term integration into routine clinic operations). How your organization will measure and report on outcomes. Potential outcomes include staff confidence and satisfaction with technology integration, reductions in wait times for appointments, appointment length, or number of rural and total patients served. A description of how this technology will further the program’s goals to: Increase access to dental services, particularly for Medicaid members other low-income or underserved rural residents (including the uninsured) in more rural areas. Strengthen the sustainability of dental practices in more rural areas. Improve oral health outcomes for rural residents. Section 2: Capacity and Experience (Maximum 500 words) Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity to implement and sustain the proposed technology. Responses must include: Description of staff structure and clinic operations, specifically related to program goals Prior experience with purchasing and managing clinical technologies Description of communities served and unmet dental needs in those communities Prior experience with serving rural residents Section 3: Commitment to expand access to dental services (Maximum 500 words) Applicants must describe services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries and other low-income or underserved (including the uninsured) rural residents. We are looking for evidence of current systems or plans to ensure access to affordable dental care for rural populations who have limited resources to access dental care. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to enroll as Medicaid providers and to provide sustained services for Medicaid members. Responses must include: Current number of: Medicaid members, and Other low-income or underserved rural residents served per month Current total number of patients served per month Current monthly percentage of patients that are: Medicaid members, and Other low-income or underserved rural residents Current and/or proposed sliding scale fee structure or other strategies to serve patients without dental insurance and with limited resources Current or proposed plans to prioritize access for: Medicaid members, and/or Other low-income or underserved rural residents Proposed Medicaid service commitment following grant implementation, including any projected increases in Medicaid members served per month and any plans to enroll as a Medicaid provider, if not already enrolled. BUDGET Section 4: Budget Please fill out the Investing in Dental Care Technology Grant Budget Template (Excel) with proposed expenditures for the project. For each item, include a brief justification for the amount. This should include how you arrived at the amount requested. Supplies: Describe your supply costs for this project. This should include most technological purchases and systems upgrades. Travel: Describe travel expenses (transportation, lodging, per diem, etc.) for this project. If none, mark N/A. Equipment: Describe planned equipment purchases, if any. Equipment is defined as having a per-unit cost of over $10,000 and requires approval from CMS. Contractual Services: Describe contractors you will fund for this project, if any. Other: Describe other costs associated with this project, if any. Indirect: Describe costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefiting more than one cost objective and readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted. Limited to 8% of the total award amount. If none, mark N/A. The budget template and Addendum Exhibits 2 and 3 (Federal Compliance Requirements and Budget Instructions) can be used as a guide when developing your budget and justification. Application Scoring Rubric and Review Process Applications will be reviewed and scored by an evaluation team using the 100-point scale below. Those organizations located and providing services in rural counties (rather than semi-rural alone) will receive an additional weight of 0.15 on the total scale score. Note that all programs must benefit people living in rural and semi-rural areas of Wisconsin, outside of metropolitan hubs (see the map in the addendum for a definition of rural counties). For sections with high point values, more detail may be required. Point Allocation Required documents 5 points Program Design 40 points Capacity and Experience 20 points Commitment to expanded access to dental services 20 points Budget 15 points Total 100 points All on-time proposals that include all required documentation will be eligible for review. A committee of subject matter experts and knowledgeable stakeholders will review proposals and make recommendations for funding applications. DHS will not release the names of members of the review committee. In addition to rubric scoring, contextual factors such as past performance and spending history, geographic coverage and program reach, and project feasibility will be considered when making final award decisions, if applicable. Submission Deadline Questions are due by 11:59 p.m. on June 22, 2026. DHS will post responses within 72 hours. Responses must be submitted through the online application form by 11:59 p.m. on July 27, 2026. Following the deadline, DHS will review responses and announce awards to selected recipients. Federal funding statement This program is supported by CMS of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $203,670,005.21 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Acquisition grant type Request for Application Life cycle step Current Solicitations Posted on June 15, 2026 Submit by July 27, 2026, 11:59 pm Solicitation links Investing in Dental Care Technology: Grants to improve rural dental efficiency and access Glossary Last revised June 15, 2026 Wisconsin Agencies Careers Public Meeting Notices Price Transparency Your Rights Website Policies Site Feedback Contact DHS Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin Connect with DHS Back to top

This RFA invites applications for grant funding to support community health workers and enhance the rural health workforce in Wisconsin. The initiative is part of the broader Rural Health Transformation Program and targets rural workforce development. No specific grant award amounts or recipients are listed in this document. Event schedule: - Community Health Workers Grants: Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce in Wisconsin - Wisconsin Department of Health Services Skip to main content An official website of the State of Wisconsin Here’s how you know Here’s how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. A-Z Index Careers Languages العربية (Arabic) English (English) Español (Spanish) Français (French) हिन्दी (Hindi) Hmoob (Hmong) Lingála (Lingala) ລາວ (Lao) Bahasa Melayu (Malay) ဗမာစာ (Myanmar (Burmese)) ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi) پښتو (Pashto) Русский (Russian) Kinyarwanda (Kinyarwanda) Soomaaliga (Somali) Shqip (Albanian) Kiswahili (Swahili) Українська (Ukrainian) اردو (Urdu) Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) 简体中文 (Chinese (Simplified)) Search Menu Search About DHS Acronym Glossary American Rescue Plan Act Funding for Wisconsin Business Opportunities Civil Rights Client Rights Contacts by Service Area DHS Regions by County Divisions and Offices Employee Information File a Complaint or Report Fraud Forms Library Governor Evers' Proposed 2025-2027 Budget HIPAA Memos Library News Releases Newsletter Library Open Records Requests Our Locations Publications Library Rural Health Transformation Program Service Areas Statutorily Required Reports Statutory Boards, Committees and Councils Vision, Mission, and Values Vital Records Work at DHS: Career Opportunities Data Statistics A-Z Listing of Topics Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Births Infant Deaths Cancer Communicable Disease Surveillance Data Deaths Domestic Partnerships Environmental Public Health Tracking Family Health Survey HIV Immunization Rates Lead Poisoning, Childhood Life Expectancy Local Data Marriages Divorces Mental Health Statistics Occupational Health Safety PRAMS (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System) Public Benefit Program Data Reporting Data to DHS Respiratory Virus Data Sexually Transmitted Diseases Substance Use Wastewater Monitoring WISH (Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health) Query System Diseases Conditions A-Z Listing of Topics Childhood Communicable Diseases Chronic Disease Prevention COVID-19 Disease Prevention Disease Reporting Fight the Bite! Food Poisoning Fungal Infections Illnesses Spread by Animals Illnesses Spread by Mosquitoes Illnesses Spread by Ticks Illnesses Spread by Water Immunizations Invasive Bacteria Mental Health Outbreaks Under Investigation Respiratory Viruses Sexually Transmitted Diseases Skin Infections Substance Use Disorders Health Care Coverage BadgerCare Plus Care4Kids Consumer Guide to Health Care Coordinated Specialty Care Crisis Services Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Information End of Life Planning Family Care Family Planning Only Services Find a Health Care Facility or Care Provider Find Affordable Health Insurance ForwardHealth Free or Low Cost Clinics Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Immunizations IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership (LTCIP) Medicaid in Wisconsin Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) Mental Health Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation Prenatal Care Coordination Prescription Drug Assistance Services for Children with Delays or Disabilities Substance Use Supplemental Security Income-Related Medicaid Wisconsin Chronic Disease Program (WCDP) Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP) Long-Term Care Support Adult Protective Services Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) Blind and Visually Impaired Client Rights Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind Dementia Family Care Find a Health Care Facility or Care Provider IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) Medicaid in Wisconsin Medicare Counseling Music and Memory National Core Indicators Project Services for Children Services for Older Adults Services for People with Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities Services for People with Physical Disabilities Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children's Resource Network Prevention Healthy Living Adolescent Health Brain Health Childhood Experiences and Health Chronic Disease Prevention Climate and Health Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Community Support Programs (CSP) Dose of Reality: Opioids Environmental Health Homelessness Immunization Individual Placement and Support Injury and Violence Prevention Lead Poisoning Prevention LGBTQ Health Maternal and Child Health Mental Health Nutrition and Food Assistance Nutrition and Physical Activity Occupational Health Oral Health Program Peer Services Real Talks Wisconsin: Change the Conversation on Substance Use Resilient Wisconsin Small Talks: How WI Prevents Underage Drinking Substance Use Suicide Prevention Supervised Release Tobacco is Changing Wisconsin State Health Plan For Partners Providers Area Administration Aging and Disability Resource Centers Civil Rights Compliance Electronic Visit Verification Eligibility Management Emergency Medical Services ForwardHealth Community Partners Funding Information Grant Enrollment, Application and Reporting System (GEARS) Health Alert Network Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Health IT Program Home and Community-Based Services Waivers Local Public Health Long-Term Care and Support Medicaid State Plan Memos Library Mental Health Services Minority Health MyWisconsin ID Nursing Home Reimbursement Preadmission Screening and Resident Review Primary Care Program Public Health Registries: Promoting Interoperability Public Health Workforce Development Resources for Legislators Substance Use Services Trauma Care System Tribal Affairs Uniform Fee System WIC Vendor Wisconsin State Health Plan Certification, Licenses Permits A-Z Listing of Topics Caregiver Programs DHS DQA Provider Portal Environmental Certification, Licenses, and Permits Health and Medical Care Licensing and Certification Mental Health Treatment Programs Plan Review Residential and Community-Based Care Licensing and Certification Substance Use Treatment Programs WIC Vendor Licensing A-Z Index Careers Languages العربية (Arabic) English (English) Español (Spanish) Français (French) हिन्दी (Hindi) Hmoob (Hmong) Lingála (Lingala) ລາວ (Lao) Bahasa Melayu (Malay) ဗမာစာ (Myanmar (Burmese)) ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi) پښتو (Pashto) Русский (Russian) Kinyarwanda (Kinyarwanda) Soomaaliga (Somali) Shqip (Albanian) Kiswahili (Swahili) Українська (Ukrainian) اردو (Urdu) Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) 简体中文 (Chinese (Simplified)) Home About DHS Business Opportunities Community Health Workers Grants: Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce in Wisconsin Doing Business: Home Audit Management Funding Information Grant Funding Opportunities Grant Writing Tips Contract Compliance Contact Us Business Opportunities Community Health Workers Grants: Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce in Wisconsin Funding Opportunity Summary The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) seeks to strengthen the Wisconsin rural health workforce by developing and expanding high-quality and impactful community health worker (CHW) programs in clinical and community settings. There are three main components to this funding opportunity: Hiring and supporting CHWs to carry out services in rural communities Training CHWs on core competencies and standards Building organizational capacity to sustain quality CHW service provision Applicants may apply to multiple Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding opportunities for which their organizations are eligible. Download the full grant funding opportunity and addenda (PDF) Application release June 15, 2026 Letter of Intent due July 1, 2026 Application submission due Aug. 7, 2026 Application questions due July 1, 2026. Responses will be posted within one week. Please send questions to: dhsruralhealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov and place CHW Application Questions in the Subject line. Estimated date for award notification Late August 2026 Estimated funding The Rural Health Transformation Program will award up to $20 million in Year 1. Additional funds will be available over a five-year period, pending CMS approval, as estimated below. In years 3–5, funding will be reduced as it is expected that many CHW services will be covered by Medicaid. Year 1: $20,000,000 Year 2: $20,000,000 Year 3: $10,000,000 Year 4: $8,000,000 Year 5: $8,000,000 Award period Year 1: 10/1/2026-7/31/2027 Year 2: 10/1/2027-7/31/2028 Year 3: 10/1/2028-7/31/2029 Year 4: 10/1/2029-7/31/2030 Year 5: 10/1/2030-9/30/2031 Number of available awards We anticipate selecting approximately 30–50 recipients. We estimate that recipients will expand or start a CHW Program with two or three CHWs each within the designated rural and semi-rural counties (see addendum). However, these are only estimates to help with planning, and the full scope of a given award may be smaller or larger based on program needs outlined in the applications received, and the overarching needs and goals of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) . Award amount We estimate making awards in the range of $400,000–$600,000 per year among programs that include the hiring of new CHWs (based on an estimate of $200,000 per CHW). This includes CHW and CHW supervisor salary and fringe, travel and/or mileage to provide services, phone, computer and supply costs, organizational costs, and training time and resources. CHW Supervisor salary and fringe are calculated at a ratio of one supervisor for every five CHWs. Smaller awards in the range of $100,000–$300,000 may also be available for rural organizations that already have CHWs on their staff or rural facilities that currently contract with organizations that employ CHWs and CHW supervisors, and are not seeking support for additional CHW staff. These awards would be for organizations only seeking funding to expand the scope of CHW services and support infrastructure development, such as strengthening organizational capacity and CHW professional development, building strong referral and tracking mechanisms, or testing new payment models. Application submission All submissions must be made online through the Letter of Intent for Community Health Workers Grants form and the Community Health Workers Grants Application form. Background The Wisconsin Rural Health Transformation Program is focused on improving healthcare access and health outcomes in rural communities across Wisconsin. This funding opportunity is part of the RHTP, a federal funding opportunity provided to states through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The DHS received a first-year award from CMS for $203,670,005.21 to invest in rural capacity, sustainability, and innovation. The program aims to improve access to care through three initiatives: strengthening the healthcare workforce, enhancing technology innovation, and cultivating coordinated care partnerships. Through collaboration among healthcare providers, public health agencies, and community-based organizations, the program seeks to improve health and well-being in rural communities. This funding opportunity is part of the workforce initiative. CHWs serve as trusted connectors and help individuals navigate medical and non-medical services and systems, manage chronic conditions, and overcome barriers such as transportation, food insecurity, and limited access to care. In rural communities, where healthcare provider shortages and geographic isolation are common, CHWs strengthen outreach and promote healthier communities through support and connection to essential services. Purpose This grant funding opportunity is intended to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce and linkages between the community and clinics to address the health needs of rural populations. Through this funding, the State of Wisconsin aims to expand the integration and sustainability of CHWs as an evidence-based care model to improve health outcomes in Wisconsin’s rural communities. This funding will prioritize CHW services for those who are low-income or underserved living in Wisconsin’s rural communities. The goals of this funding opportunity are to: Increase the quality and number of the CHW workforce in rural areas of Wisconsin. Improve the health of rural Wisconsinites through strong linkages between clinics and communities. Strengthen CHW programs through training and technical assistance. Build sustainable infrastructure to support the CHW workforce. Successful applications submitted as part of this funding opportunity must address the following: New or enhanced CHW program: The program is focused on transformative work that goes beyond existing service provision. Funds awarded under this program must be used to support new or expanded CHW partnerships, services, or activities. Applicants may not use grant funds to maintain existing services or programs. Applicants should clearly describe how the proposed project represents a new program or a substantive expansion of current efforts, including any new CHW position(s), key partnerships, anticipated services, populations served, geographic areas, and service capacity. The CHW scope of practice is determined by the National Council on CHW Core Consensus Standards and services may include patient outreach and program enrollment, patient navigation, chronic disease management, non-medical resource navigation and barrier reduction, data collection and evaluation, and others defined through the grant funding opportunity. Community-clinical linkages across sectors: Applicants should describe how developing or expanding a CHW program will address specific community needs and how collaboration between community and clinical partners will function to support program goals. Proposal should clearly describe how they will establish strong community-clinical partnerships, workflows, and referral networks between CHW staff and external partners to meet needs. Training and technical assistance: Applicant agencies and CHWs must participate in training and technical assistance that align with, recognize, and adopt state and national best practices for CHW workforce development. Proposals should clearly describe the agency’s capacity to engage in training and technical assistance provided through the Rural Health Transformation Program. Recipients of this funding will have access to CHW Core Competency training and CHW Supervisor training provided by training entities selected through a separate grant funding opportunity. Recipients will be expected to participate in regional and in-person training and technical assistance offerings provided by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI) Envision and other training partners that support RHTP deliverables. RHTP will also make available additional training and professional development opportunities based on applicant and recipient training needs. Sustainability: Applications must include a clear and feasible plan for sustainability beyond the grant period. Proposals should describe how community health worker infrastructure will be maintained over time through reimbursement, payer mix, operational efficiencies, and other funding sources. Program Requirements Program development or enhancement Assess organizational readiness by utilizing the Wisconsin CHW Integration Toolkit Assessment, P-03746 (PDF) or the Community Health Alignment CHW Healthcare Integration Toolkit (PDF) . Expand or create a CHW program that includes staffing for CHW position(s), CHW Supervisor, anticipated services, data documentation process, key partnerships, and engagement in the Wisconsin CHW workforce landscape. Establish strong community-clinical partnerships, workflows, and referral networks between CHW staff and external partners to meet medical and non-medical needs. Training and Technical Assistance Enroll and complete CHW core competency training and CHW supervisor training within six months. Complete an assessment to identify specific training needs based on rural community medical and non-medical needs. Participate in training and technical assistance for program development including onboarding, team integration, workforce, and financial sustainability provided by RHTP training and technical assistance partners. This training and technical assistance will be made available as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program. Support CHW participation, as part of their position, in professional networks to advance and contribute to strengthening the statewide CHW workforce. Sustainability Develop and implement a plan for establishing a comprehensive reimbursement model that includes multiple funding sources such as Medicaid, private, or other public funding to sustain agency CHW model. Provide data necessary for reporting deliverables and engage in a CHW impact study for financial sustainability. Collaborate with the RHTP grant evaluation team to collect and report qualitative and quantitative data using provided tools and guidance. Additionally, funding recipients will be expected to align program development with future reimbursement requirements, such as Medicaid, and participate in CHW-related studies conducted by other RHTP grant partners. Reporting Requirements: Evaluation A combination of quantitative and qualitative data will be required quarterly and annually for state and federal evaluation purposes, including: number and location of rural facilities that have hired new CHWs, number of referrals to services (for example, chronic disease management, transportation, and behavioral health services), and number of trainings completed by CHWs and supervisors. In addition, grantees will need to report on their work to expand the reach of CHW services, overall program accomplishments, and other relevant metrics resulting from awarded funds. DHS will provide technical assistance to awarded agencies to collect and report required metrics. Eligible Applicants Applicants must be rural facilities in the state of Wisconsin. Facilities in Wisconsin counties defined by the 2020 U.S. Census as either semi-rural or rural (see Addendum Exhibit 1 for a definition of semi-rural and rural counties) will be eligible to apply for these funding opportunities, including but not limited to the following: Federally Qualified Health Centers and/or Community health centers Free and charitable clinics Hospitals Local and Tribal health departments Rural health clinics Tribal clinics Community-based organizations School-based health providers Applicant Qualifications In addition to the program and evaluation requirements, applicants must meet or have a detailed plan to meet the following requirements: Ensure CHWs meet the American Public Health Association definition and have or will complete core competency training that meets the National C3 Council Standards . Ensure a ratio of one CHW Supervisor per five CHWs, and that the supervisor has or will complete CHW Supervisor training that meets the National C3 Council Standards . Have sufficient staff and capacity to plan, implement, and evaluate the proposed approach in alignment with the grant goals. Have a history of collaborating with multi-sector partners to achieve sustainable change. Have experience collecting quantitative and qualitative data to facilitate evaluation and performance outcome reporting, and/or have a plan to request DHS technical assistance in this area. Have fiscal, accounting, management, and information technology staff for the overall project. Be in good standing with DHS and able to comply with all DHS reporting, fiscal, and audit requirements. Funding Availability Submission does not guarantee funding through this opportunity. This allows DHS to assess capacity of interested parties to conduct the work outlined in the scope of work. DHS reserves the right not to award funding to any applicant, and to award fewer or more grants than initially indicated. DHS also reserves the right to award grants for less than an applicant’s proposed amount. DHS may award additional funding if more funding becomes available. Should additional funding become available at any point during the grant period, DHS reserves the right to use the results of this grant funding opportunity to increase funding to the selected agencies, to fund additional agencies that submitted an application but were not selected, or to reallocate unused funds. DHS uses a cost-based reimbursement model that limits reimbursement to actual allowable incurred costs. If funding is awarded, expenses can be submitted for reimbursement only after they have been incurred. Allowable Costs Recipients of this funding will have access to CHW Core Competency training and CHW Supervisor training provided by training entities selected through a separate grant funding opportunity. Applicants will not need to budget for training registration costs but may need to budget for travel and per diem costs for in-person training as applicable. RHTP will also make available additional training and professional development opportunities based on applicant and recipient training needs. In addition to using this funding opportunity, recipients will be expected to participate in regional and in-person training and technical assistance offerings provided by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI) Envision and other training partners that support RHTP deliverables. Additionally, funding recipients will be expected to align program development with future reimbursement requirements, such as Medicaid and studies conducted by other RHTP grant partners. Grant recipients will be required to comply with the DHS Allowable Cost Policy Manual , all applicable federal requirements, and all applicable award requirements, including those incorporated through Exhibit 2: Federal Compliance Requirements Rural Health Transformation Program. The grant recipient must ensure that any subcontracts also follow allowable and unallowable cost guidance. Allowable Costs and Activities (examples) CHW and CHW Supervisor staff time to coordinate and implement the project, and to provide CHW services to clients not already covered by another funding source or insurance. Services may include: Health promotion Health education Diagnosis-related patient coaching or education Health system navigation and resource coordination Cultural facilitation Screening and assessments Documentation and administrative work Assistance with insurance enrollment Care coordination and case management services Arranging and providing transportation Other direct patient care Meeting expenses related to the project: meeting room, audiovisual (AV) equipment, travel, speakers, etc. Infrastructure to support a quality CHW program, such as billing and/or fiscal infrastructure, technology for billing and tracking services, and administrative support Travel related to the project Program evaluation Office supplies, postage, copying, etc. related to the project Consultant and contract services needed to implement the project Unallowable Costs and Activities (examples) Pre-award costs Direct or indirect lobbying activities Duplicate payments: Funds may not be used to replace payment for clinical services that could be reimbursed by insurance Clinician salaries or wage supports for facilities that subject clinicians to non-compete contractual limitations Replacing or duplicating existing funding sources. For example, if funds are used for expanding an existing pilot program or initiative, funds may only be applied to the costs associated with the new population, new activities, new program milestones, etc. The original program's programmatic costs, administrative expenses, and activities must continue to be funded by those original sources. Costs or activities not directly related to the overall project description and scope of work Independent research and development, including associated indirect costs in accordance with 2 CFR 300.477 Construction or building expansion, purchasing or significant retrofitting of buildings, cosmetic upgrades, or any other cost that materially increases the value of the capital or useful life as a direct cost Meals, unless in limited circumstances such as subjects and patients under study, if specifically approved as part of the project or program activity, or as part of a per diem in conjunction with allowable travel Projects outside of Wisconsin Administrative Cost Limits and Determinations No more than 8% of the award amount may be used for administrative expenses. This is based on CMS requirements: a 10% cap is applied to the cumulative administrative costs for the entire program, including those incurred by both the State and any subrecipients. Personnel costs associated with administering RHTP grant activities may be considered administrative costs. In contrast, if staff are directly carrying out program initiatives, the cost may be considered programmatic. Administrative costs support the day-to-day operations and general grant oversight. These costs generally include indirect costs, audit expenses, and salary and fringe benefits for personnel whose primary responsibilities involve managing, tracking, and overseeing the grant. More information is available in the Addendum Exhibit 3: Budget Instructions. Allowable Costs for Construction and Renovations Under federal grant regulations, alteration and renovation must be necessary and reasonable for performance of the award and directly related to program objectives. Any renovation or alteration costs will require prior approval from CMS. RHTP staff will submit required renovations requests to CMS for approval on behalf of grantees prior to purchase or start of work. Renovations may not proceed until written approval is received. Additionally, no more than 20% of the total award can be spent on minor alterations and renovations. See Exhibit 2: Federal Compliance Requirements for more information. Letter of Intent We recommend but do not require a letter of intent to submit an application in response to this grant funding. Letters of intent allow DHS to better understand the geographic distribution of interest across Wisconsin’s rural areas and helps DHS prepare for application reviews and plan for grantee training and technical assistance. The letter of intent should be provided through the Letter of Intent for Community Health Workers Grants form by July 1, 2026, and will include the following: Name of Applicant Organization A short, two-to-four sentence summary, about your CHW program, including the population served and/or intended to be served, and your interest in this funding opportunity Primary point of contact name and email address List of counties or Tribes where services will be provided Include answers the following questions: Do you currently employ or contract with Community Health Workers (CHW) (yes/no)? If yes, how many? If yes, how long have CHW services been provided by your organization? (number of years) Are you currently enrolled as a Medicaid provider? (yes/no)? If no, are you willing to enroll as a Medicaid provider in the future? (yes/no) Application Submission The application can be accessed via the Community Health Workers Grants Application form and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on August 7, 2026. Only complete applications submitted through this link will be considered. Applications must include: Responses to the statements in the Application Questions section. Any information beyond the page limit will not be read, reviewed, or scored. Proposed budget and justification Letters of support from each partner with an active role in the project, if known and applicable at the time of application. The budget, justification, and letters of support do not count toward the narrative response word limit. Organizations may request technical assistance for preparing their applications from the University of Wisconsin-Population Health Institute, Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, and Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality. Technical assistance can be requested for describing local health needs using community data, accessing information to quantify the local health context, project evaluation planning, and/or developing performance measures. These partners have no input on funding decisions. To learn more, send a request to RHTP-evaluation@wisc.edu . Applicants should reach out directly to DHS at DHSRuralHealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov for questions regarding technical difficulties with the application submission process. Note : questions about the funding opportunity, including eligibility requirements, budgets, allowable and unallowable expenses, and related topics, must be submitted by July 1, 2026, and will be answered through published FAQs. Application Questions CONTACT AND SUMMARY Name and address of lead organization applying Contact information for the primary point of contact regarding this application First Name Last Name Email Counties or Tribal Nations where services will be provided for this project Provide a brief executive summary of your project (maximum 100 words). This section is not scored. NARRATIVE RESPONSE Section 1: Community needs and impact (Maximum 1000 words) Describe how the proposed project will meet the purpose of this funding opportunity, including (as applicable): Alignment with program goals Describe the community’s medical and non-medical needs or priorities. Include connections to priorities identified in community health needs assessments or related health improvement plans. Describe how developing or expanding a CHW program will help support identified community needs. Describe collaborations between community and clinical partners and how they will function to support program goals and community needs. Describe how developing or expanding a CHW program will impact rural patients in the counties or Tribes you intend to serve for this project. If you identified semi-rural counties, how will you focus your efforts on patients living in rural census tracts? Section 2: Program design and implementation (Maximum 2500 words) Describe how the proposed project will meet the goals of this funding opportunity, including: Proposed initiatives and implementation Describe the CHW program, team-based care approaches, and the anticipated workflows, activities, or services that will take place to strengthen community-clinical linkages and care coordination in community settings. Applicants who plan to hire CHWs within clinical settings should describe their approach for collaboration with community-based organizations. Applicants who plan to hire CHWs within a community-based setting should describe their approach for collaboration with clinical organizations. Describe the organization’s plan for CHW team integration. Describe how the proposed project initiatives align with the full scope of practice for CHWs based on National Council on CHW Core Consensus Standards. Include a timeline for proposed implementation. Provide a detailed plan for the first grant period (through Sept. 30, 2027) and a summary for future grant periods (through Sept. 30, 2031). Please include planned deliverables and expected completion dates for Year 1. Examples of deliverables could include: Two rural facilities will hire three new CHWs by December 2026 Referral systems established for services (for example, chronic disease management, transportation, and behavioral health services) by January 2027 Three CHWs and two existing supervisors trained by February 2027 Sustainability, evaluation plan, and data collection Include a sustainability plan describing how the proposed services could be maintained beyond the grant period. As appropriate to the size and scope of the project, applicants may include details such as potential state or federal funding sources such as Medicaid, partnerships, or operational approaches that would support program continuation. Describe plan for CHW team members to have access to data and documentation systems to capture both community-based and clinical referrals and outcomes. Describe methodology for creating a workflow that supports referral systems among multi-sector partners, such as using technology platforms to track referrals and documenting completed services. Describe barriers that may impact how the anticipated program is developed and implemented. Describe how you will demonstrate impact to rural patients (for example, number of patients living in rural census tracts served). Section 3: Personnel and institutional capacity (Maximum 1,000 words) Describe the organization’s capacity to implement the proposed project. Applicants must: Describe the organizational and/or team structure and institutional environment and resources, specifically as related to program goals. Describe the organizational readiness for developing or expanding a CHW program. Describe staffing, including new or existing positions and anticipated full-time equivalents. Describe the recruitment process and timeline if hiring new staff. Explain how the project will continue in the event of staff turnover. Describe the role of each partner in achieving project goals. Describe the roles, responsibilities, management and monitoring of any subcontractors. Section 4: Experience and knowledge (Maximum 1,000 words) Describe the organization’s experience with, and/or knowledge relevant to, the proposed project. Applicants must address their experience related to: Understanding CHW roles and responsibilities. Delivering or coordinating healthcare, behavioral health, or community-based services. Working with populations experiencing barriers to care, including rural and semi-rural communities. Collecting and using data and evidence to inform service and project improvement. Hiring, training, and supervising staff with relevant knowledge or licensure. Partnering with other organizations to enhance coordination. If subcontractors will be used, describe their relevant experience and expertise. If you do not have specific experience with one or more of the above, please outline why your organization is well positioned to carry out this new area of work, how you will gain the necessary expertise to carry out the work, and/or areas where you anticipate requesting additional technical assistance from DHS. Section 5: Training and technical assistance needs assessment (not scored) How interested is your organization or program in receiving training and technical assistance in the following topic areas? General information about the CHW profession (e.g. CHW definition, qualifications, roles, evidence of CHW impact) CHW hiring (e.g. job descriptions, interview questions, identifying trusted CHWs, training, onboarding) CHW supervisor training and professional development Program planning and implementation (e.g. organizational readiness, educating teams about CHWs, developing workflows, referral processes) Program evaluation and impact measurement (e.g. documenting CHW activities and outcomes, data collection, reporting strategies) Sustainable CHW funding strategies (e.g. identifying and securing long-term funding for CHWs, using sustainability tools, Medicare and/or Medicaid) Community engagement and partnership development (e.g. engaging community leaders, collaborating with or supporting CHW groups) Addressing social drivers of health (e.g. screening, assessing community needs and resources) Leadership development for CHWs CHW ally leadership development Training related to a specific topic(s) based on community needs (please describe) How interested is your organization/program in participating in the following types of activities? Webinars on CHW-related topics Drop-in office hours with experts on CHW-related topics Individualized coaching to support CHW program goals A CHW learning collaborative with other organizations and/or programs like yours BUDGET Section 6: Budget Complete the Community Health Workers Grant Budget Template (Excel) with proposed expenditures for year one. For each item include a brief justification for the amount. Applicants will not need to budget for training registration costs but may need to budget for travel and per diem costs for in-person training as applicable. This should include how you arrived at the dollar amount requested for the expense. Example: Personnel: $10,000; Personnel Justification: Personnel is calculated based on a 0.20 FTE Coordinator at $24.04/hour = $10,000. Salary: Describe your personnel expenses for this project. If none, mark N/A. If CHW salaries are included, provide an estimate of client services that will be covered through this funding vs. other funding. Fringe: Describe your fringe expenses. If none, mark N/A. Travel: Describe travel expenses (transportation, lodging, per diem, etc.) for this project. If none, mark N/A. Contractual Services: Describe any contractual partners you will fund for this project. If none, mark N/A. Equipment: Describe any equipment purchases that will be made for this project. Equipment is defined as having a per-unit cost that equals or exceeds $10,000 and requires approval from CMS. If none, mark N/A. Supplies: Describe your supply costs for this project. If none, mark N/A. Other: Describe any other costs associated with this project. If none, mark N/A. Indirect: Describe costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefiting more than one cost objective and readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted. Limited to 8% of the total award amount. If none, mark N/A. The budget template and Addendum Exhibits 2 and 3 (Federal Compliance Requirements and Budget Instructions) can be used as a guide when developing your budget and justification. Application Scoring Rubric and Review Process Applications will be reviewed and scored by an evaluation team using the 100-point scale below. Those organizations located and providing services for this project in rural counties (rather than semi-rural alone) will receive an additional weight of 0.15 on the total scale score. All programs must benefit people living in rural and semi-rural areas of Wisconsin, outside of metropolitan hubs. See the map in the addendum for a definition of rural counties. For sections with high point values, more detail may be required. Point Allocation Community Needs and Impact 15 points Program Design and Implementation 40 points Personnel and Institutional Capacity 20 points Experience and Knowledge 20 points Budget 5 points Total 100 points All on-time proposals that include all required documentation will be eligible for review. A committee of subject matter experts and knowledgeable stakeholders will review proposals and make recommendations for funding applications. In addition to rubric scoring, contextual factors such as past performance and spending history, geographic coverage and program reach, and project feasibility will be considered when making final award decisions, if applicable. Submission Deadlines Questions are due by 11:59 p.m. on July 1, 2026. DHS will post responses within one week. Responses must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 7, 2026. Federal funding statement This program is supported by CMS of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $203,670,005.21 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Acquisition grant type Request for Application Life cycle step Current Solicitations Posted on June 15, 2026 Submit by August 7, 2026, 11:59 pm Solicitation links Community Health Workers Grants: Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce in Wisconsin Glossary Last revised June 15, 2026 Wisconsin Agencies Careers Public Meeting Notices Price Transparency Your Rights Website Policies Site Feedback Contact DHS Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin Connect with DHS Back to top

Event schedule: - areas of the state, face challenges that result in reduced access to care. These challenges include high rates of uninsured patients, low and unpredictable patient volumes, dental workforce shortages, and limited capital resources to adopt innovative technologies. This funding opportunity seeks to address these challenges through increased access to dental technological innovations, which improve dental services in rural Wisconsin by increasing the speed of appointments while maintaining quality of care. This funding will allow dental practices to purchase technologies to deliver high-quality and efficient services. Applicants may apply to multiple Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding opportunities for which their organizations are eligible. Key Dates • Application release: , 2026 • Application submission due: July 27, 2026 • Application questions due: June 26, 2026. Responses will be posted within one week. Please send questions to: dhsruralhealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov, and place Dental Application Questions in the Subject line. • Estimated date for award notification: September 2026 Estimated funding: The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) will award up to $10 million for this funding opportunity, *pending CMS approval, as estimated in the table below. Funding Opportunity Award period Total funding available* Rural Dental Efficiency 11/1/2026 – 9/30/2028 $10,000,000 and Access Grants Number of available awards: The number of available awards will be determined by the variety and scope of projects submitted. Awards will be made to ensure distribution across regions and counties, with an emphasis on rural communities. Award amount: Award amounts will vary based on the total number of applications received and the scope of the projects submitted. DHS will negotiate the terms of the award, including the award amount, with selected applicants prior to entering into a contract. Application submission : All applications must be submitted online through the Investing in Dental Technology Application form. Background The Wisconsin Rural Health Transformation Program is focused on improving healthcare access and health outcomes in rural communities across Wisconsin. This funding opportunity is part of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a federal funding opportunity provided to states through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Wisconsin Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 2 (06/2026) - June 15 - 11:59 p.m - Department of Health Services (DHS) received a first-year award from CMS for $203,670,005.21 to invest in rural capacity, sustainability, and innovation. The program aims to improve access to care through three initiatives: strengthening the healthcare workforce, enhancing technology innovation, and cultivating coordinated care partnerships. Through collaboration among healthcare providers, public health agencies, and community-based organizations, the program seeks to improve health and well-being in rural communities. Purpose Through this funding opportunity, DHS aims to address these challenges by subsidizing the purchase of dental technologies to make care more available to people in rural Wisconsin. These technologies can reduce appointment times, increase patient service volumes, improve patient comfort, and maximize the existing dental workforce. Funding will support the provider's adoption of eligible dental technologies that would otherwise be cost prohibitive. The goals of the Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Program are to: • Increase access to dental care, particularly for underserved populations in rural and semi- rural Wisconsin who are lower income, uninsured, have Medicaid dental coverage, and/or who otherwise have difficulty seeing a dental provider. • Strengthen the sustainability of dental practices in rural and semi-rural areas. • Improve oral health outcomes for rural residents. Program Requirements Dental providers applying for this funding opportunity must meet all the following requirements: • Provide services that benefit people living in rural and semi-rural areas of Wisconsin, outside of metropolitan hubs. See Addendum Exhibit 1 for a definition of rural counties. • Use grant funds to purchase eligible dental technologies. All proposed technologies must be clearly linked to increased efficiency, expanded access, and improved service delivery. • Describe clear strategies to provide care to patients with Medicaid coverage or others with limited resources to access dental care (e.g. low-income and uninsured). • As described in the Application Questions section, applicants must clearly describe how grant funds will be used, what technologies will be purchased, and how the grant will meet community needs. Reporting Requirements: Evaluation A combination of quantitative and qualitative data will be required quarterly and annually for state and federal evaluation purposes. Providers will be asked to report on the number and percentage of patients served with limited resources to access dental care (e.g. low-income and uninsured), and who have Medicaid coverage at baseline and annually throughout the life of the grant. Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 3 (06/2026) - Independent research and development, including associated indirect costs in accordance with 2 CFR 300.477 Construction or building expansion, purchasing or significant retrofitting of buildings, cosmetic upgrades, or any other direct costs that materially increase the value or useful life of the capital Meals, unless in limited circumstances such as subjects and patients under study, if specifically approved as part of the project or program activity, or as part of a per diem in conjunction with allowable travel Projects outside of Wisconsin Administrative Cost Limits and Determinations • No more than 8% of the award amount may be used for administrative expenses. This is based on CMS requirements: a 10% cap is applied to the cumulative administrative costs for the entire program, including those incurred by both the state and any subrecipients. • Personnel costs associated with administering RHTP grant activities may be considered administrative costs. In contrast, if staff are directly carrying out program initiatives, the cost may be considered programmatic. • Administrative costs support the day-to-day operations and general grant oversight. These costs generally include indirect costs, audit expenses, and salary and fringe benefits for personnel whose primary responsibilities involve managing, tracking, and overseeing the grant. • More information is available in Addendum Exhibit 3: Budget Instructions. Allowable Costs for Construction and Renovations • Under federal grant regulations, alteration and renovation must be necessary and reasonable for performance of the award and directly related to program objectives. Any renovation or alteration costs will require prior approval from CMS. RHTP staff will submit required renovations requests to CMS for approval on behalf of grantees prior to purchase or start of work. Renovations may not proceed until written approval is received. Additionally, no more than 20% of the total award can be spent on minor alterations and renovations. • See Exhibit 2: Federal Compliance Requirements for more information. Application Submission The application can be accessed through the Investing in Dental Technology Application form and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on , 2026. Only applications submitted through this link will be considered. Applications must include: • Responses to the statements in the Application Questions section. Any information beyond the page limit will not be read, reviewed, or scored. Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 6 (06/2026) - July 27 - 11:59 p.m - ο A timeline and strategy for purchasing the technology, training staff on use, and integrating into routine clinic operations. ο How your organization will maintain and sustain the technology (such as through staffing, budgeting, and long-term integration into routine clinic operations). ο How your organization will measure and report on outcomes. Potential outcomes include staff confidence and satisfaction with technology integration, reductions in wait times for appointments, appointment length, or number of rural and total patients served. • A description of how this technology will further the program’s goals to: ο Increase access to dental services, particularly for Medicaid members other low- income or underserved rural residents (including the uninsured) in more rural areas. ο Strengthen the sustainability of dental practices in more rural areas. ο Improve oral health outcomes for rural residents. Section 2: Capacity and Experience (Maximum 500 words) Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity to implement and sustain the proposed technology. Responses must include: • Description of staff structure and clinic operations, specifically related to program goals • Prior experience with purchasing and managing clinical technologies • Description of communities served and unmet dental needs in those communities • Prior experience with serving rural residents Section 3: Commitment to expand access to dental services (Maximum 500 words) Applicants must describe services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries and other low-income or underserved (including the uninsured) rural residents. We are looking for evidence of current systems or plans to ensure access to affordable dental care for rural populations who have limited resources to access dental care. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to enroll as Medicaid providers and to provide sustained services for Medicaid members. Responses must include all of the following: • Current number of o Medicaid members. o Other low-income or underserved rural residents served per month. • Current total number of patients served per month. • Current monthly percentage of patients that are: o Medicaid members. o Other low-income or underserved rural residents. • Current and/or proposed sliding scale fee structure or other strategies to serve patients without dental insurance and with limited resources • Current or proposed plans to prioritize access for: o Medicaid members. Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 8 (06/2026) - • Proposed budget and justification • Letters of support from each partner with an active role in the project The budget, justification, and letters of support do not count toward the narrative response word limit. Organizations may request technical assistance for preparing their applications from the University of Wisconsin-Population Health Institute, Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, and Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality. Technical assistance can be requested for describing local health needs using community data, accessing information to quantify the local health context, project evaluation planning, and/or developing performance measures. These partners have no input on funding decisions. To learn more, send a request to RHTP- evaluation@wisc.edu. Applicants should reach out directly to DHS at DHSRuralHealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov for questions regarding technical difficulties with the application submission process. Please note that questions about the funding opportunity, including eligibility requirements, budgets, allowable and unallowable expenses, must be submitted by , 2026, and will be answered through published FAQs. Application Questions CONTACT AND SUMMARY 1. Name and address of lead organization applying 2. Contact information for the primary point of contact regarding this application • First Name • Last Name • Email 3. Counties or Tribal Nations where services will be provided for this project 4. Provide a brief executive summary of your project (three to four sentences or less than 100 words). This section is not scored. NARRATIVE RESPONSE Section 1: Program Design (Maximum 1,000 words) Describe how grant funds will be used to improve efficiency and expand access to dental services in rural and semi-rural communities. Responses must include: • A list of clinics, including addresses, where technologies will be implemented. ο Clinics located in rural counties will receive a higher score than clinics located in semi-rural counties that serve a portion of rural residents. See Addendum Exhibit 1. • An implementation plan that details: ο A list of the technology (or technologies) to be purchased. Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 7 (06/2026) - June 26 - 11:59 p.m - ο A timeline and strategy for purchasing the technology, training staff on use, and integrating into routine clinic operations. ο How your organization will maintain and sustain the technology (such as through staffing, budgeting, and long-term integration into routine clinic operations). ο How your organization will measure and report on outcomes. Potential outcomes include staff confidence and satisfaction with technology integration, reductions in wait times for appointments, appointment length, or number of rural and total patients served. • A description of how this technology will further the program’s goals to: ο Increase access to dental services, particularly for Medicaid members other low- income or underserved rural residents (including the uninsured) in more rural areas. ο Strengthen the sustainability of dental practices in more rural areas. ο Improve oral health outcomes for rural residents. Section 2: Capacity and Experience (Maximum 500 words) Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity to implement and sustain the proposed technology. Responses must include: • Description of staff structure and clinic operations, specifically related to program goals • Prior experience with purchasing and managing clinical technologies • Description of communities served and unmet dental needs in those communities • Prior experience with serving rural residents Section 3: Commitment to expand access to dental services (Maximum 500 words) Applicants must describe services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries and other low-income or underserved (including the uninsured) rural residents. We are looking for evidence of current systems or plans to ensure access to affordable dental care for rural populations who have limited resources to access dental care. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to enroll as Medicaid providers and to provide sustained services for Medicaid members. Responses must include all of the following: • Current number of o Medicaid members. o Other low-income or underserved rural residents served per month. • Current total number of patients served per month. • Current monthly percentage of patients that are: o Medicaid members. o Other low-income or underserved rural residents. • Current and/or proposed sliding scale fee structure or other strategies to serve patients without dental insurance and with limited resources • Current or proposed plans to prioritize access for: o Medicaid members. Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 8 (06/2026) - All on-time proposals that include all required documentation will be eligible for review. A committee of subject matter experts and knowledgeable stakeholders will review proposals and make recommendations for funding applications. DHS will not release the names of members of the review committee. In addition to rubric scoring, contextual factors such as past performance and spending history, geographic coverage and program reach, and project feasibility will be considered when making final award decisions, if applicable. Submission Deadline Questions are due by 11:59 p.m. on , 2026. DHS will post responses within 72 hours. Responses must be submitted through the online application form by 11:59 p.m. on July 27, 2026. Following the deadline, DHS will review responses and announce awards to selected recipients. Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 10 (06/2026) - June 26 - Addendum Exhibit 1: Target Areas of Wisconsin Wisconsin applied to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the Rural Health Transformation Program from 2026 to 2030. The program will improve rural health in rural and semi-rural counties, as defined by the 2020 U.S. Census. Rural Counties Semi-Rural Counties Adams, Ashland, Barron, Buffalo, Bayfield, Brown, Calumet, Chippewa, Burnett, Clark, Crawford, Florence, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Forest, Green Lake, Iron, Jackson, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Juneau, Lafayette, Langlade, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lincoln, Marinette, Marquette, Manitowoc, Marathon, Oconto, Outagamie, Menominee, Monroe, Oneida, Ozaukee, Pierce, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Price, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Richland, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Vilas, Washburn, Wood Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 11 (06/2026) - b. Funding for provider payments, as described in Category B of the program requirements and expectations use of funds section, cannot exceed 15% of the total funding CMS awards states in a given budget period. c. Funding cannot be used for initiatives that fund certain cosmetic and experimental procedures that fall within the definition of a specified sex-trait modification procedure at 45 CFR 156.400 because that is beyond the scope of this program. 16. No more than 5% of total funding CMS awards to a state in a given budget period can support funding the replacement of an EMR system if a previous HITECH certified EMR system is already in place as of , 2025. a. Upgrades, enhancements, and added modules, interfaces, or functionality to existing EMR/EHR systems are allowable uses of funds and are not subject to the 5% limitation. 17. Funding towards initiatives similar to the Rural Tech Catalyst Fund Initiative (as described in the appendix) cannot exceed the lesser of (1) 10% of total funding awarded to a state in a given budget period or (2) $20M of total funding awarded to a state in a given budget period, and funding is subject to all restrictions and requirements described in the example initiative. 18. Clinician salaries or wage supports for facilities that subject clinicians to non-compete contractual limitations. 19. None of the funding shall be used by the state for an expenditure that is attributable to an intergovernmental transfer, certified public expenditure, or any other expenditure to finance the non-federal share of expenditures required under any provision of law. 20. SSA Section 2105(c) , paragraphs (1), (7), and (9) apply as funding limitations. These limitations are related to general limitations, limitations on payment for abortions, and citizenship documentation requirements for payments made with respect to an individual. 21. States must focus funding on the following categories as described in Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21: a. Prevention and chronic disease: Promoting evidence-based, measurable interventions to improve prevention and chronic disease management. b. Provider payments: Providing payments to healthcare providers for the provision of healthcare items or services, subject to restrictions described in the funding policies and limitations. c. Consumer tech solutions: Promoting consumer-facing, technology-driven solutions for the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 14 (06/2026) - September 1 - d. Training and technical assistance: Providing training and technical assistance for the development and adoption of technology-enabled solutions that improve care delivery in rural hospitals, including remote monitoring, robotics, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies. e. Workforce: Recruiting and retaining clinical workforce talent to rural areas, with commitments to serve rural communities for at least 5 years. f. IT advances: Providing technical assistance, software, and hardware for significant information technology advances designed to improve efficiency, enhance cybersecurity capability development, and improve patient health outcomes. g. Appropriate care availability: Assisting rural communities to right-size their healthcare delivery systems by identifying needed preventative, ambulatory, pre- hospital, emergency, acute inpatient care, outpatient care, and post-acute care service lines. h. Behavioral health: Supporting access to opioid use disorder treatment services, other substance use disorder treatment services, and mental health services. i. Innovative care: Developing projects that support innovative models of care that include value-based care arrangements and alternative payment models, as appropriate. 22. Additional uses designed to promote sustainable access to high quality rural healthcare services, as determined by the CMS Administrator, including: a. Capital expenditures and infrastructure: Investing in existing rural healthcare facility buildings and infrastructure, including minor building alterations or renovations and equipment upgrades to ensure long-term overhead and upkeep costs are commensurate with patient volume, subject to restrictions in the funding policies and limitations. b. Fostering collaboration: Initiating, fostering, and strengthening local and regional strategic partnerships between rural facilities and other healthcare providers to promote quality improvement, improve financial stability of rural facilities, and expand access to care. 23. Specific examples provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity include: a. States can offer certain incentives to attract clinical workforce to work in rural areas provided the recipient of the incentive commits to working in rural areas for a minimum of 5 years. Funding for local housing for students or trainees in rural areas may be allowable if included as part of an approved initiative within the scope of the RHT Program. Note that payment for student or trainee housing is limited to short-term (less than 6 months) housing for rotations. Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 15 (06/2026) - Budget Description and Justification For each line-item, applicants must provide sufficient detail to explain: • What the expense is. • How the cost was calculated. • Why the expense is necessary for the project. • How the expense supports project goals and activities. Examples include: • Position title, percentage of time devoted to the project, and fringe percentage for personnel costs. • Number of units and unit cost for supplies and materials. • Number of trips, travelers, mileage, lodging, or registration costs for travel. • Scope of work and estimated cost for consultants or contractors. • Budget descriptions should provide enough information for reviewers to understand and evaluate the proposed expenditure without requiring additional clarification. Administrative Cost Limits and Determinations Administrative costs are limited to 8% of the total amount allocated to a subrecipient during a budget year. Administrative costs for your budget includes indirect and direct costs that are considered administrative costs. Applicants should explicitly show that administrative expenses are less than or equal to 8%. Note : In the budget template, applicants will identify which line items count as administrative expenses (such as program management salaries) and show that their sum is 8% or less of the total. The administrative cap is based on CMS requirements that no more than 10% of the amount allotted to a state for a fiscal year may be used by the state for administrative expenses ( Public Law 119-21 ). This cap applies to the cumulative administrative costs for the entire program, including those incurred by both the state and any subrecipients. Therefore, DHS has determined an 8% allowable administrative cap for this grant funding opportunity. See CMS’s RHTP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (, 2025), Sec. II, No. 91, and Sec. V, No. 8 and No. 9, for additional guidance. The FAQ provides the following further guidance: • Personnel costs costs (FAQ Sec. III, No. 91 and Sec. III, No. 92). If staff are III, No. 109). • Determinations about whether a cost is “programmatic” or “administrative” depends on the nature of the activities performed (FAQ Sec. III, No. 101, Sec. V, No. 62, Sec. V, No. 63). • Final determinations on costs will be made by CMS. Detailed justifications for requested expenses are necessary to ensure they are approved (FAQ Sec. III, No. 101 and 103). Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 19 (06/2026) - October 31 - Examples of costs that are administrative (See FAQ ): • General oversight and expenses “such as director’s office, accounting, administrative personnel, and other types of expenditures classified as administrative” (FAQ Sec. V, No. 67) • Salaries for program management staff (FAQ Sec. III, No. 62) • State personnel costs administering the grant (FAQ Sec. III, No. 92) • Staff “managing or overseeing the grant itself” (FAQ Sec. III, No. 109) • Hiring an independent evaluator to collect data and evaluate the program (FAQ Sec. V, No. 62) • Hiring an accountant to keep track of RHT program funds (FAQ Sec. V, No. 63) • Hiring staff to train faculty on program or project management (FAQ Sec. V, No. 63) Examples of costs that are likely programmatic (See FAQ ): • Costs are programmatic if they are “directly related to implementing, executing, and/or delivering activities described within specific initiatives in the state’s application and the state provides sufficient detail in their application to justify their initiatives budget.” (FAQ Sec. III, No. 103) o Costs directly related to implementing, executing, or delivering activities specifically identified in the state’s application are presumed to be programmatic in nature. o Any programmatic costs must “support expansion and scale to better serve rural communities, not to replace or duplicate existing funding sources” (FAQ Sec. III, No. 61). If funds are used to expand a pre-existing pilot or program, RHT funds shall only apply “to the costs associated with the new population, new activities, new program milestones” and to supplement costs previously funded by the state or existing fiduciaries. • Directly carrying out program activities, such as providing technical services, technical assistance, or supporting program operations like expanding programs to rural areas or implementing new initiatives (FAQ Sec. III, No. 109) • Hiring and training new community health workers to serve residents in a clinical workforce area. (FAQ Sec. V, No. 6) • Purchasing new patient monitoring devices and educational materials to specifically serve populations in the clinical workforce area. (FAQ Sec. V, No. 6) • Startup costs to establish new contracts or agreements for service delivery in the counties (FAQ Sec. V, No. 6) • Hiring preceptors or equipment to facilitate training residents on how to access RHT services or programs. (FAQ Sec. III, No. 103) • Community colleges using funds to create “a structured, certifiable pathway to a new degree, new certification, or to a career and/or new job opportunity in the clinical workforce area.” (FAQ Sec. III, No. 105; note the 5-year commitment requirements) Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant Page 20 (06/2026)

This guidance outlines best practices for state health agencies in recruiting, hiring, and supporting Community Health Workers, including the importance of community partnership, equity-centered hiring standards, and career development pathways. It includes strategies to address barriers for applicants and enable effective hiring, drawn from national experts and practical resources. The document supports preparation for WI's RHTP state transformation activities as part of the broader workforce development initiative. Event schedule: - Additional Resources on CHW Hiring: CDC. A Handbook for Enhancing CHW Programs: Recruitment. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/pdf/trainpdfs/hb- recruitment.pdf Heath S. Considerations for Recruiting, Hiring Community Health Workers. Patient Engagement HIT. , 2022. https:// patientengagementhit.com/features/considerations-for-recruiting-hiring-community-health-workers MHP Salud. Tips for Recruiting and Hiring Promatores(as) and Community Health Workers as Employees. https://mhpsalud. org/tips-for-recruiting-and-hiring-community-health-workers-as-employees/ Peynetti P. Recruiting and Selecting CHWs: Strategies for Success. CHW Central. Jan. 20, 2016. https://chwcentral.org/ recruiting-and-selecting-chws-strategies-for-success/ Rural Health Information Hub. Recruiting, Hiring, and Employment Considerations. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/ toolkits/community-health-workers/4/recruiting-hiring-employment-considerations The development of this product is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under grant number 2 UD3OA22890-10-00. Information, content, and conclusions will be those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. - Jan. 31

This participant guide supports attendees of the 2024 CHW Sustainability Summit in building strategies for sustainable Community Health Worker programs in Wisconsin. It provides tools for leadership development, relationship-building, financial planning, and aligning local efforts with national best practices, with a focus on practical, action-oriented peer learning. The document is designed to help teams set, track, and achieve sustainability goals grounded in equity and community power. Key contacts: NACHW; C3 Council info@C3Project.org; CHW-CRE info@chwcre.org; envision hello@envisionequity.org Event schedule: - CHW Sustainability Summit - April 16-18, 2024 - PT - Spokane, WA - Founding of NACHW - 2019-04-01 - National - Release of C3 Council Core Roles & Competencies at APHA Annual Meeting - 2022-11-01 - APHA Annual Meeting - CMS releases 2024 Physician Fee Schedule - 2024-01-01 - CHW Sustainability Summit - 2024-04-16 - America/Los_Angeles - Spokane, WA