All 50 States Apply for CMS Rural Health Transformation Program
Published November 17, 2025
By AACOM Government Relations
Federal Policy
OME Advocate
- On November 5, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that all 50 states submitted applications for the new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, created by the OBBBA to strengthen rural healthcare nationwide. The application window ran from September 15 to November 5.
- The RHT Program aims to improve access and quality in rural communities by supporting innovative care models, stabilizing rural providers and strengthening the rural health workforce.
- CMS will now review applications in two stages: an eligibility review determining half of the funding, followed by a merit review for the remaining awards. Approved states will be announced by December 31, 2025, with funding beginning in FY26.
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