The $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program (RHT) is a landmark federal initiative launched in 2025 to reshape rural healthcare delivery across all 50 states. A five-year federal investment administered by CMS to; expand access to care in rural communities. modernize rural health infrastructure and technology, strengthen the rural health workforce, and support innovative, state-driven care models. The funding structure is $10 billion per year from FY 2026–2030. 50% to be allocated equally across states with approved applications, 50% awarded based on need. Needs include, rural population share, number and condition of rural facilities, and land mass and strategic proposals. States submitted one-time applications in 2025 outlining transformation plans. CMS announced awards in December 2025, with first-year grants ranging from $147M to $281M per state.
The 2026 Chartis Rural Health Snapshot reveals deepening instability, with 41% of rural hospitals operating at a loss and 417 facilities vulnerable to closure. Additionally over 300 hospitals have eliminated OB services and 450+ have cut chemotherapy. Medicaid reimbursements account for nearly 10% (or $3.9 million) in net revenue for the typical rural hospital.
Can this initiative turn these statistics around? Who will take on the challenges to not just spend the $50B but change the rural healthcare landscape?
News
Nevada Invests Over $50 Million to Strengthen Rural Healthcare Workforce and Expand Access Across the State
The Nevada Health Authority announced $36 million in Rural Health Transformation funding awards in support of rural health care. This investment will expand access to essential services, stabilize health care operations in underserved communities, and strengthen the long-term viability of rural health systems. This first round of grants supports one of four initiatives approved as part of Nevada’s Rural Health Transformation Program—the Rural Health Flex Fund. This flex fund is designed to cover the cost of one-time critical, unmet infrastructure needs and technology gaps in rural and frontier areas of the state.
AssureCare® and CURIS Partner to Ensure RHT Funding Builds Infrastructure That Outlasts the Program
AssureCare®, an AI-powered population health management company, and CURIS, a national consulting firm specializing in clinical transformation for community health centers, announced a partnership to help Federally Qualified Health Centers and rural clinics translate the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation (RHT) program funding into care infrastructure that lasts long after the grant cycle ends.
Maryland awards $80M in rural health funds to expand primary care access
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has announced its awarding of $80 million in grant funding as a part of the state’s Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. Maryland received $168 million under the RHT program, and MDH Assistant Secretary for Population Health and Strategic Initiatives Elizabeth Kromm explains the latest round of grant awards will help expand primary care access in rural communities.
New Mexico Wellness Wire: State making plans to bolster rural health with new federal funds
New Mexico state Health Care Authority is solicits proposals to spend $211.5 million, the state’s initial share of federal funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program. The state agency will spend $79 million on a “Healthy Horizons” program to expand specialty care and chronic disease management services in rural communities; $43 million on a “Rooted in New Mexico” workforce development initiative; and $47 million on the Rural Health Innovation Fund to support community-based organizations.
Federal Policy Priorities To Strengthen Rural Health and Maximize Rural Health Transformation Program Investments
The Bipartisan Policy Center released a policy report outlining federal reforms needed to strengthen rural health and maximize the impact of the $50B Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). It is a federal policy roadmap aimed at Congress, CMS, HHS, and federal partners.
Wolters Kluwer to Help Rural Hospitals and FQHCs Access Top Drug Information and Patient Education Solutions Integrated With Epic
Wolters Kluwer Health is working with Epic to offer an integrated set of clinical content solutions, UpToDate Lexidrug®, Medi-Span®, and UpToDate Patient Education, to eligible healthcare organizations across the United States. The combined offering is designed to help healthcare institutions that traditionally face budget and resource constraints, including rural hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), state hospitals, and tribal healthcare organizations, ambulatory practices and small health systems gain streamlined access to trusted clinical decision support, medication intelligence, and patient education resources directly within Epic workflows.
More to Read on Rural Healthcare
Events
2026 National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Annual Meeting (NOSORH)
When: September 1-3, 2026
Where: Pittsburgh PA
Event Page
Register for this event.
AscendRural Summit 2026
When: November 30 – December 2, 2026
Where: Eagan MN
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Resources
The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program was authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21) and empowers states to strengthen rural communities across America by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem. Through innovative system-wide change, the RHT Program invests in the rural healthcare delivery ecosystem for future generations.
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is a national nonprofit membership organization that brings together thousands of members across the United States.
The association’s mission is to provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education and research.
NRHA Events
NRHA Press Releases
NRHA’s Rural Health Voices Blog
