What is the Mississippi Rural Health Transformation Program?
- 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 health care access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem.
- Through innovative system-wide change, the RHT Program invests in the rural health care delivery ecosystem for future generations. RHT Program funding is $50 billion to be allocated to approved states over five fiscal years, with $10 billion available each fiscal year, beginning in fiscal year 2026 and ending in fiscal year 2030.
- The funding opportunity was coordinated through each state’s governor’s office, with states responsible for administering the funds in ways that best meet their local needs. In Mississippi, the program has been shaped through collaboration with multiple state agencies and external partners, and this collaborative approach will continue throughout the life of the program.
- Mississippi’s RHT Program offers an opportunity to transform how health care is delivered in rural areas. It supports easier access to care, stronger community partnerships, more local health workers and modern technology that helps providers connect and coordinate.
More Questions & Answers
How did Mississippi design the program?
To develop our application, the Mississippi Governor’s office solicited public input and received 145 responses, with stakeholders coming from nearly half of the counties in the State. Respondents included state health officials, public health workers, healthcare providers and administrators, health plan representatives, members of the public, legislators, and potential vendor partners. This input from stakeholders directly influenced the State’s plan. The Governor’s office also collaborated with the MS State Department of Health, Department of Medicaid, and Department of Mental Health to develop our plan and application.
We also reviewed national best practices and innovative models from across the country, along with Mississippi-specific data, to guide initiatives focused on the areas of greatest risk.
While no single plan can address every challenge, the RHT Program creates an opportunity to better understand health needs in rural Mississippi and invest in meaningful, locally driven solutions. It lays the foundation for lasting change, but continued collaboration will be essential.
We encourage communities and stakeholders to engage in ongoing dialogue and collaboration, working together toward addressing the complex realities of rural health care.
When will funding opportunities be available?
Timely distribution of funding, in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, is our top priority. As program details are finalized, funding opportunities and updates will be posted.
When and how will entities be able to apply for funds?
We will post information about how to apply for funding on the Mississippi RHTP webpage as it becomes available.
Does Mississippi have to prove outcomes to CMS?
- Yes, reporting is a requirement.
- The annual reporting is consistent with other CMS grant opportunities and is structured to ensure states use funding consistent with the terms of the cooperative agreement. CMS uses these reports to track progress on state initiatives, evaluate compliance with cooperative agreement terms, and inform decisions on future funding amounts.
- For the RHT Program, states will also report quarterly and annually on progress on their work plans, timelines, milestones, and achievement of measurable outcomes.
- The specific outcomes and milestones that Mississippi will be required to report to CMS will be determined by the final terms of the awarded cooperative agreement.
When is the first budget period?
The first budget period is through October 30, 2026. All first-year funds must be obligated by this date and spent by the end of federal Fiscal Year 2027, which ends on September 30, 2027.
Did Mississippi receive funding for everything in the application?
Mississippi’s Rural Health Transformation Plan has been fully reviewed and approved by CMS. Final funding is contingent upon approval of the State’s detailed budget submission, which is currently under review. Based on ongoing coordination with CMS and alignment with program requirements, there is no indication that approval will not be granted.
Will this improve access to care?
How does the state plan to keep Mississippians updated on the RTHP?
Mississippi will place progress updates on the Mississippi RHTP webpage.
Were there any exclusions/limitations to what the funding can cover?
- Yes, there were several funding limitations set by CMS, including new construction, provider payments to replace payment for clinical services reimbursable by insurance, pre-award costs, and more.
- More information on funding restrictions can be found on the CMS FAQ webpage.
Contact Us
Looking for more information on the Mississippi Rural Health Transformation program? Reach out to our program managers by submitting the form below.