Healthy Beginnings
Maternal and child health, including telehealth for high-risk pregnancies, rural maternity care, home visiting and youth healthy-habit programs.
RHTP state profile · Alaska
Alaska Rural Health Transformation Program
Alaska received $272.2 million in Year 1 of the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program, 2nd of 50 states. The Alaska Department of Health (DOH) runs the program, which funds six initiatives in every community outside Anchorage, from maternal and child health and access to care to workforce and technology.
Year 1 awards, all 50 statesAK: $272.2M
Texas $281.3MNew Jersey $147.3M
$272.2MYear 1 award, 2nd of 50
6Funded initiatives
29 / 30Alaska boroughs and census areas are rural
DOHAlaska Department of Health
Spending data in the RHTP Year One Report covers December 29, 2025 to July 31, 2026, the latest CMS reporting window.
At a glance
Alaska's program at a glance
The award is fixed for the year. Spending moves every quarter, so Alaska's section of the RHTP Year One Report tracks how much was put to work, and with whom, through July 31, 2026. It updates after each CMS data release.
Year 1 award$272,174,856, 2nd of 50 states
Run byAlaska Department of Health
Budget Period 1December 29, 2025 to October 30, 2026
Initiatives6
Rural boroughs and census areas29 of 30
Spending data through July 31, 2026Alaska's section of the Year One Report →Initiatives
What does Alaska's RHTP fund?
Alaska's RHTP funds six initiatives across maternal and child health, access to care, prevention, payment reform, workforce and technology. Every Alaska RHTP application must align with one of these six.
Health Care Access
Primary, behavioral, oral, specialty, EMS, pharmacy and senior care in and close to rural communities, plus patient transportation.
Healthy Communities
Prevention and chronic disease management through digital tools, wellness programs and home water and sanitation improvements.
Pay for Value: Fiscal Sustainability
Helps rural providers move from volume-based payment to voluntary value-based payment models, with technical assistance and back-office support.
Strengthen Workforce
Training pipelines, residencies, and recruitment and retention incentives tied to five-year service commitments, plus housing and child care support.
Spark Technology and Innovation
Telehealth, AI, digital health tools, interoperable health IT, the statewide health information exchange and emerging tools such as drones.
Recipients by initiative are in Alaska's section of the RHTP Year One Report.
Source documents
Alaska's full plan is public
The approved plan has more detail than any summary: goals, partners, metrics and timelines for each initiative. Read it before applying for Alaska RHTP funding.
PDFDOHAlaska RHTP Project Narrative and Supporting DocumentsThe full plan from DOH, revised February 13, 2026, including all six initiatives and Alaska's policy commitments.PDFDOHAlaska RHTP Potential Uses of FundsThe kinds of projects each initiative can fund, revised February 19, 2026.PDFDOHFall 2026 RHTP Applicant Resource GuideDOH's guide to requirements, focus areas, budgets and templates, updated September 27, 2026.PDFCMSCMS 50-State SpotlightsCMS's short profile of each state's program, including Alaska's.PDFCMSCMS State Project AbstractsEach state's own summary, side by side.
Rural borough or census area (29)Municipality of Anchorage (1)
Eligibility
Which Alaska communities are eligible for RHTP funding?
Every Alaska community outside the Municipality of Anchorage counts as rural under the state's plan, which covers 29 of Alaska's 30 boroughs and census areas. Alaska has no counties, and more than 80% of its communities are off the road system. Organizations anywhere in Alaska, including Anchorage and Fairbanks, can apply if the project supports rural Alaskans, and each funding cycle states its own requirements.
How to apply
How can Alaska providers apply for RHTP funding?
Alaska organizations apply for RHTP subawards through DOH funding cycles, using an online portal run by the Alaska Community Foundation, which manages the subaward process for DOH. The Year 2 fall 2026 cycle closed October 28, 2026, and the next cycle is expected to open in early spring 2027. Providers and vendors don't apply to CMS directly.
- Match the work to an initiative.Funding only goes to work that fits one of the six, and DOH's Potential Uses of Funds document lists the kinds of projects each one covers.
- Watch for the spring 2027 cycle.Sign up for DOH's RHTP email updates and check the For RHTP Applicants page for dates and focus areas.
- Register your organization.Organization registration is separate from each project application. Each organization can submit up to five applications per cycle.
- Plan for federal rules.Grant recipients follow federal grant, reporting and audit rules. A Single Audit applies at $1 million or more in federal spending a year, and every project needs a plan to continue after RHTP funding ends.
- Ask DOH directly.Email RHTP@alaska.gov with program questions, or RHTP@alaskacf.org with questions about the application process.
Federal terms
Four rules that shape every award
Federal terms follow the money down to every Alaska recipient.
Grants and contracts carry different obligations
A subaward makes your organization a subrecipient that carries out part of the program, with federal reporting and audit requirements. A contract pays for goods or services, with lighter requirements.
New rounds follow CMS budget approval
States can't post funding opportunities until CMS approves their budget, so windows can open months into a budget period.
Workforce incentives need a rural commitment
Recruitment and retention payments require clinicians to commit to serving rural communities for at least five years.
Recipients must disclose the federal funding
Under the Stevens Amendment, websites, social posts and other public materials about a funded project must name the federal funding.
Allowable costs
What can Alaska's RHTP funding pay for?
Alaska's RHTP funding can pay for work on existing facilities, uncovered care, technology and administration, within federal caps on each use. Applied to Alaska's Year 1 award, the maximums are:
Capital and infrastructure20% of award
About $54.4M
Provider payments15% of award
About $40.8M
Administrative costs10% of award
About $27.2M
Rural Tech Catalyst Fund10% or $20M, whichever is less
$20.0M
Replacing an existing EMR system5% of award
About $13.6M
Provider payments and capital
Provider payments cover services insurance doesn't pay for, quality bonuses and outcome-based payments tied to Alaska's plan. They can't raise rates for services providers already bill.
Capital funds go to existing facilities: renovations, accessibility upgrades, HVAC and like-for-like equipment replacement.
Off limits
- New construction, demolition and major expansions
- Cosmetic work such as painting, carpet or decor
- Clinician salaries at facilities that use non-compete clauses
- Home broadband installation and service
- Costs already covered by other federal or state funding
Policy commitments
Alaska's policy commitments carry deadlines
Alaska committed to seven policy actions in its application. One is done. CMS can reduce or recover funding if the rest slip.
Pharmacist scope of practice
Expand pharmacists' scope of practice to full authority
HB 195 became law when the Legislature overrode a veto on June 19, 2026Licensure compacts
Join the licensure compacts CMS scores, by law
HB 110 joined five compacts in June 2026; the nurse compact did not passSNAP food restriction waiver
Get an approved USDA waiver limiting non-nutritious SNAP purchases
Not on USDA's list of approved waivers as of October 2026Certificate of need
Issue regulations making certificate of need rules less restrictive for ancillary services
Remote patient monitoring
Update Medicaid coverage to include remote patient monitoring
Presidential Fitness Test
Require the Presidential Fitness Test in schools by regulation
Education department plans assessments starting in the 2027-28 school yearNutrition education for physicians
Require nutrition continuing medical education by State Medical Board regulation
In June 2026, Alaska enacted HB 110 to join the medical, physician assistant, psychology, social work and EMS licensure compacts. Alaska has not joined the nurse licensure compact.
Years 2 to 5
$40B
Future awards depend on progress
Year 1 is not a guaranteed annual amount. CMS plans up to $40 billion more nationwide through 2030 and rescores every state each year on progress, data and policy actions.
Unobligated money leaves the state
Funds not obligated by the end of a budget period can't be obligated later and are redistributed to other states.
Funds can be clawed back
CMS can withhold, reduce or recover money for unallowable costs, unapproved plan changes or missed policy commitments. States get 90 days to fix a violation, and most decisions can't be appealed.
Oversight is growing
CMS's Office of Rural Health Transformation plans site visits in all 50 states in 2026. Audits start in 2027.
Method
Reading Alaska's spending data
Use the numbers in Alaska's section of the RHTP Year One Report to understand direction and pace, not as an audit.
Put to work is not paid out
Obligated money is signed to a contract or grant. Cash reaches recipients later.
Through July 31, 2026 only
The data covers December 29, 2025 to July 31, 2026, as Alaska reported it to CMS. Commitments made after July 31, 2026 are not counted yet.
Recipients sit inside line items
The CMS report has no recipient column. Search Alaska's line item descriptions by name.
Quarterly refresh
CMS updates the data after each quarterly state report, starting with the November 30, 2026 filing.
Announcements
Major Alaska announcements
DOH completes its Year 1 funding cycle, with just under $249 million awarded to 254 projects, including Tribal health organizations, EMS councils and local governments.
DOH opens the Year 2 fall 2026 application cycle, about $75 million, with an open call for all six initiatives and focus areas in EMS, care coordination and value-based payment readiness.
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development announces RHTP-funded student fitness assessments aligned with the Presidential Fitness Test, starting in the 2027-28 school year.
DOH issues its largest weekly round of Year 1 awards: $130 million for 104 projects.
DOH announces its first Year 1 awards: $4.5 million for 19 projects.
DOH advances more than 400 projects to full applications after receiving about 1,800 letters of interest.
The Legislature overrides the governor's veto of HB 195, which expands pharmacists' authority to treat minor and chronic conditions.
DOH opens its Letter of Interest portal for Year 1 projects, open through March 11.
CMS awards Alaska $272.2 million for Year 1, the second-largest award and the largest per resident.
Awards announced after July 31, 2026 are not in the CMS spending data yet. They will appear after the next CMS refresh.
Timeline
Key dates
- Dec 29, 2025Year 1 award; Budget Period 1 begins
- Feb 17, 2026Year 1 Letter of Interest portal opens
- Jul 31, 2026End of the first CMS reporting window; Year One Report spending data runs through this date
- Aug 7, 2026First Year 1 awards announced
- Sep 30, 2026Year 2 fall 2026 application cycle opens
- Oct 28, 2026Year 2 fall 2026 applications close
- Oct 30, 2026Budget Period 1 ends
- Nov 30, 2026Quarterly reports due; CMS refreshes funding data
- Dec 2026Year 2 fall cycle notifications expected to begin
- Jan 6, 2027Two-day Year 2 statewide convening begins in Anchorage
- Sep 30, 2027Deadline to spend Year 1 funds
- Dec 31, 2027Compacts, SNAP waiver, certificate of need and remote monitoring deadlines
- Dec 31, 2028Fitness test and nutrition education deadlines
- 2030Final year of the five-year program
Implications
What this means
For rural hospitals
Health Care Access drew the largest share of Alaska's Year 1 project awards, about $98.9 million or 40%. Facility renovation requests and multi-year continuation requests from Year 1 subrecipients were held for the spring 2027 cycle, so watch for that round.
For partners and vendors
Out-of-state organizations can apply, but DOH strongly encourages them to work with Alaska-based partners. Tribal health organizations, regional EMS councils and local governments were among Year 1 recipients, and partnering with them is one route in. Technology and innovation was the second-largest Year 1 lane, at about $43.2 million.
For applicants and grantees
Build tracking for the measures Alaska reports to CMS before an award lands. Subrecipients can't opt out of reporting, and their results feed Alaska's annual rescoring. Year 1 funds must be spent by September 30, 2027.
FAQ
Alaska RHTP FAQs
Who runs Alaska's Rural Health Transformation Program?
The Alaska Department of Health (DOH) runs Alaska's Rural Health Transformation Program, using federal funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). DOH manages the state's plan, makes all funding decisions and answers questions at RHTP@alaska.gov, while the Alaska Community Foundation runs the application portal and subaward payments. The program is Alaska's share of the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
How much RHTP funding did Alaska receive?
Alaska received $272,174,856 for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Program, 2nd of 50 states. Every state got $100 million in baseline funding, and the rest of Alaska's award was based on its rural needs, its policy commitments and the strength of its plan. Later years depend on Alaska's progress.
Can Alaska RHTP funding pay for construction?
No. RHTP funds can't pay for new construction, demolition or major expansions. Up to 20% of Alaska's award each year, about $54.4 million in Year 1, can go to work on existing facilities, such as renovations, accessibility upgrades, HVAC replacement and like-for-like equipment replacement.
Can Alaska providers use RHTP funding to pay for patient care?
Only for care that insurance doesn't already pay for. Provider payments can cover nonreimbursed services, quality bonuses and outcome-based payments tied to Alaska's plan, up to 15% of the award each year, about $40.8 million in Year 1. They can't raise rates for services providers already bill.
Where can I see how Alaska is spending its RHTP funding?
The RHTP Year One Report tracks how much of Alaska's award was put to work through July 31, 2026, by initiative and recipient, using state-reported data from CMS, and is updated after each CMS data release. Alaska made its first Year 1 subawards on August 7, 2026, so most of its roughly $249 million in Year 1 project awards will appear after the next CMS refresh. DOH also posts a Year 1 awards list, updated weekly.
The Alliance
RHT Alliance members serving Alaska
These RHT Alliance members serve Alaska providers, with support that spans virtual nursing, virtual care, remote monitoring, health records and data, diagnostics, patient education and grant writing.
Azalea HealthCloud EHR and billing with AI-assisted charting for rural hospitals and clinics.
CorstrataTelehealth access to board-certified wound, ostomy and continence nurses.
Equum MedicalTelehealth-enabled physician coverage across specialties.
Health Recovery SolutionsRemote patient monitoring and care management at home.
InterSystemsHealth data platforms and interoperability.
Medical Equipment SourceDigital pathology, mobile labs and lab equipment services.
Rural Health Transformation Funding NetworkGrant writing support for RHTP funding opportunities.
Self Care DecisionsEvidence-based triage that directs patients to the right level of care.
Solid StartsInfant feeding guidance and education for families, built by pediatric feeding specialists.
Teledentistry.com24/7 virtual dental evaluations and emergency triage.
VitalChatVirtual nursing and continuous audio and video care across hospitals.
WebMD IgniteMedically reviewed patient education and outreach, including its HEART rural program.Follow Alaska's money as it moves
The RHTP Year One Report tracks obligations, initiatives and recipients for all 50 states after each CMS data release.