Yesterday, March 31, 2026, the Department of Human Services (DHS) held a “kickoff” webinar to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP). The slides have not been released; however, RCPA will share the PowerPoint with members once they are available.
The webinar did not provide definitive next steps in terms of which category of Request for Proposal (RFP) would be released and when. RFPs will be periodically rolled out, and DHS indicated that the first RFP release would be in the next two weeks. The Department also shared the broad categories of project areas for consideration, stating that all RFP responses should closely tie back to their approved CMS plan.
DHS touched on the fact that RHTP funding and compliance will be achieved through continual cooperative agreements with CMS. Below is a broader timeline highlighting certain reporting and funding dates, as well as broader categorical areas the state is pursuing.
- End of First Reporting Period – July 31, 2026
- First Annual Report Due to CMS – August 31, 2026
- Obligation of Year 1 Funding – October 30, 2026
- Year 2 Funding – October 31, 2026
- Quarterly Reports Due to CMS – November 29, 2026; March 1, 2027, May 30, 2027
- Spending Deadline for Year 1 – September 30, 2027
- By March 31, 2028, CMS will begin determining the amount of unused funds from the prior period to redistribute them to other states.
Year 1 Funding Mechanisms will include:
- Expansion of existing programs;
- Program payments;
- Intergovernmental agreements; and
- Grant agreements.
If your organization has an interest in these RFPs, RCPA will provide updates as appropriate, but we also encourage you to sign up directly for the DHS listserv info. Direct RHTP inquiries can be sent here.
If you have further questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.