RHTP Funding Opportunities for Rural Health Clinics
RHTP Funding Opportunities for Rural Health Clinics
The Michigan Center for Rural Health is offering three Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding opportunities for Rural Health Clinics. Selected clinics will receive funding and individualized implementation support. The chronic disease and data integration opportunities are available statewide to eligible RHCs; the CHW recruitment and retention opportunity is limited to Upper Peninsula RHCs. These projects are supported through Year 1 funding from the RHT Program. All awarded funds must be expended by September 30, 2027.
Register Now | MCRH RHTP Funding Opportunities for RHCs
Recommended Informational Webinar
October 9, 2026 | 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET Virtual | Registration required
Join the Michigan Center for Rural Health for an overview of three Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding opportunities for Rural Health Clinics. Learn about eligibility, available funding, individualized implementation support, and the application process for:
Rural Health Clinic Chronic Disease and Collaborative Care Fund
Rural Data Integration and Infrastructure Fund
Upper Peninsula CHW Recruitment and Retention Opportunity
Chronic disease and data integration opportunities are available statewide to eligible RHCs. The community health worker (CHW) recruitment and retention opportunity is limited to Upper Peninsula RHCs.
The session will be recorded for those unable to attend live.
Purpose: Help RHCs build coordinated, sustainable approaches to chronic disease prevention and management based on clinic and community priorities. Projects may address diabetes, hypertension, behavioral health, preventive care, and other chronic conditions and patient needs across the lifespan.
Funding: Applicants may request up to $300,000 per application, whether the application is for one eligible RHC or includes multiple eligible RHCs under a health system or organization. For an organization-level application, the $300,000 cap applies to the combined request for all participating clinics.
Required priorities: Cross-sector partnerships; foundational assessment, baseline measures, and evaluation; CHW integration and sustainability; screening, routine assessment, monitoring, and risk tracking; evidence-based prevention and management approaches; and coordinated referrals and follow-up.
Additional support may include: Care management, team-based workflows, patient education, staff training, data tracking, quality improvement, and technology that supports the approved project.
Purpose: Help RHCs strengthen interoperability, digital infrastructure, care coordination, information exchange, and operational efficiency through one of two cohorts.
Funding: Applicants may request up to $300,000 per application, whether the application is for one eligible RHC or includes multiple eligible RHCs under a health system or organization. For an organization-level application, the $300,000 cap applies to the combined request for all participating clinics.
Data Integration Cohort: HIE onboarding, secure messaging, referral workflows, Community Information Exchange participation, social determinants of health referral tracking, and closed-loop connections with community partners.
Innovative Tools Cohort: Billing and coding documentation, revenue cycle improvement, prior authorization, and technology-supported workflow redesign.
Both cohorts: EHR enhancement, digital literacy assessment, telehealth, and remote care monitoring platform onboarding.
Purpose: Support Upper Peninsula RHCs in hiring, integrating, and sustaining one CHW as part of the clinic’s care team.
Funding: Each selected RHC may receive up to $80,000 to support CHW salary and fringe benefits, along with approved training, certification, mileage, and related project costs.
CHW Role: Patient outreach and engagement; health education and chronic disease self-management support; care coordination and follow-up; resource navigation; social needs screening and referrals; community-based service delivery; and efforts to close care gaps.
Separate training opportunity: Optional discounted CHW certification training is available through Northern Michigan University for eligible Upper Peninsula candidates. Clinics may hire an already-trained CHW, use another appropriate training program, or share this opportunity with a candidate who needs CHW certification training. Learn more about the discounted training opportunity.
Complete and submit the application to the MCRH RHTP Team by October 30, 2026.
Applying for multiple opportunities: Eligible RHCs may apply for more than one of the funding opportunities described above. Proposed activities and expenses must be clearly separated by opportunity, and the same expense may not be charged to more than one funding source.
Application approach: For each funding opportunity, an eligible RHC may submit an individual clinic-level application. Alternatively, a health system or organization may submit one organization-level application that includes multiple eligible RHCs.
Each participating RHC must be identified by name, location, and CMS Certification Number (CCN). An organization-level application must also explain how the proposed activities and requested funding will be allocated among the participating clinics. An RHC may appear in only one application per funding opportunity.
Behavioral health funding opportunity: A separate RHTP funding opportunity to support behavioral health initiatives is coming soon. Additional information, including eligibility requirements and application details, will be shared when available.
Contact Information
For questions about eligibility, the application, proposed activities, budgets, or technical assistance, contact:
Dates and funding levels are subject to final MDHHS approval. Funding priorities were determined by MDHHS. This publication/activity is supported by the Rural Health Transformation Program administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services through a federal award from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as part of a financial assistance award totaling $9,620,000 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of MDHHS, CMS, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
