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RHTP state profile · Oklahoma
Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program
Oklahoma received $223.5 million in Year 1 of the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program, 5th of 50 states. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) runs the program, which funds 29 programs under six initiatives across Oklahoma's 75 rural counties, from rural residencies and regional partnerships to telestroke and community paramedicine.
Year 1 awards, all 50 statesOK: $223.5M
Texas $281.3MNew Jersey $147.3M
$223.5MYear 1 award, 5th of 50
6Funded initiatives
75 / 77Oklahoma counties are rural
OSDHOklahoma State 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
Oklahoma's program at a glance
The award is fixed for the year. Spending moves every quarter, so Oklahoma'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$223,476,948, 5th of 50 states
Run byOklahoma State Department of Health
Budget Period 1December 29, 2025 to October 30, 2026
Initiatives6
Rural counties75 of 77
Spending data through July 31, 2026Oklahoma's section of the Year One Report →Initiatives
What does Oklahoma's RHTP fund?
Oklahoma's RHTP funds 29 programs grouped under six initiatives, covering care models, prevention, regional collaboration, value-based care, workforce and health data. Every funding opportunity OSDH and its partner agencies post maps to one of the six.
Moving Upstream
Chronic disease management, community health workers in hospitals, lung cancer screening, community wellness microgrants and school fitness grants.
Facilitating Regional Collaboration
A rural provider collaborative network, regional reorientation grants and plans, and statewide EMS coordination.
Shifting to Value
Value-based care support for rural practices, PACE expansion for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and new primary care models.
Growing Next-Gen Rural Talent
Rural residencies, relocation incentives for rural providers and a high school LPN pipeline.
Building Health Data Utility
Help for rural providers to adopt or upgrade electronic health records, join the state health information exchange and use shared data.
Recipients by initiative are in Oklahoma's section of the RHTP Year One Report.
Source documents
Oklahoma's full plan is public
The approved plan has more detail than any summary: goals, partners, metrics and timelines for each program. Read it before responding to an Oklahoma solicitation.
PDFOSDHOklahoma RHTP Project NarrativeThe full Year 1 plan from OSDH, including all six initiatives and Oklahoma's policy commitments.PDFOSDHOklahoma RHTP Program Quick SummaryOSDH's guide to all 29 programs, with Year 1 budgets and the agency running each one.PDFOSDHRHTP Legislative Quarterly Report, Q3 2026OSDH's status report to the Legislature on every program, covering July through September 2026.PDFCMSCMS 50-State SpotlightsCMS's short profile of each state's program, including Oklahoma's.PDFCMSCMS State Project AbstractsEach state's own summary, side by side.
Rural county (75)Oklahoma and Tulsa counties (2)
Eligibility
Which Oklahoma counties are eligible for RHTP funding?
Oklahoma's program covers 75 of the state's 77 counties: every county except Oklahoma County and Tulsa County. Within those counties, funded work must serve communities of 55,000 people or fewer, matching the Legislature's definition of non-metropolitan areas with 10% added for population growth. The original application counted 59 rural counties under federal definitions, and OSDH widened it after working with CMS. Each solicitation lists its eligible communities in an attachment, and organizations outside rural areas can apply if they show how they serve rural residents.
How to apply
How can Oklahoma providers apply for RHTP funding?
Oklahoma providers apply through competitive funding opportunities from OSDH and its partner agencies, including the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), the State Department of Education and Oklahoma State University, all posted on the RHTP Funding page. Some contracts run through the state's Supplier Portal. Providers and vendors don't apply to CMS directly.
- Match the work to a program.Funding only goes to work that fits one of the 29 programs under the six initiatives.
- Watch for new rounds.Check the RHTP Funding page and the Oklahoma Supplier Portal. OSDH says Year 2 funding opportunities start launching in January 2027.
- Register in SAM.gov and with the state.Most opportunities require an active UEI and SAM.gov registration, and awardees need an Oklahoma Supplier ID.
- Plan for federal rules.Subrecipients sign the Oklahoma RHTP subrecipient agreement, carry required insurance and follow federal grant, reporting and audit rules. A Single Audit applies at $1 million or more in federal spending a year.
- Ask OSDH directly.Email OklahomaRHTP@health.ok.gov, or contact your region's RHTP regional champion.
Federal terms
Four rules that shape every award
Federal terms follow the money down to every Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma's RHTP funding pay for?
Oklahoma's RHTP funding can pay for work on existing facilities, uncovered care, technology and administration, within federal caps on each use. Applied to Oklahoma's Year 1 award, the maximums are:
Capital and infrastructure20% of award
About $44.7M
Provider payments15% of award
About $33.5M
Administrative costs10% of award
About $22.3M
Rural Tech Catalyst Fund10% or $20M, whichever is less
$20.0M
Replacing an existing EMR system5% of award
About $11.2M
Provider payments and capital
Provider payments cover services insurance doesn't pay for, quality bonuses and outcome-based payments tied to Oklahoma'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
Oklahoma's policy commitments carry deadlines
Oklahoma committed to two policy actions in its application. One is done. Its SNAP restriction on soft drinks and candy was already approved before it applied and took effect February 15, 2026. CMS can reduce or recover funding if the remaining commitment slips.
Presidential Fitness Test
Pass a law bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test in schools
SB 1437 signed May 2026; in effect November 1, 2026Nutrition education for physicians
Pass a law requiring nutrition continuing medical education
Oklahoma already belongs to the physician, nurse, EMS, psychology and physician assistant licensure compacts.
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 Oklahoma's spending data
Use the numbers in Oklahoma'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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma'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 Oklahoma announcements
OSDH reports to the Legislature that 20 organizations won $39.6 million in Rural Regional Reorientation grants and 15 won $15 million for chronic disease management.
Gov. Kevin Stitt and Health Commissioner Keith Reed say more than 95% of Year 1 funds are obligated, including about $4 million for robotic surgery at Weatherford Regional Hospital with Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
OSDH reports that more than $3 million in microgrants reached organizations in 68 of 75 rural counties, and 60 rural schools received $10,000 fitness grants.
OSDH opens its first RHTP funding opportunity, microgrants for community-led wellness hubs.
An updated CMS notice of award unlocks nearly $202 million of Oklahoma's Year 1 award, with about $21 million still under CMS review.
CMS awards Oklahoma $223.5 million for Year 1.
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
- Jul 31, 2026End of the first CMS reporting window; Year One Report spending data runs through this date
- Oct 30, 2026Budget Period 1 ends
- Nov 1, 2026Presidential Fitness Test law (SB 1437) takes effect
- Nov 18, 2026Community Paramedicine Consulting Services RFP due
- Nov 30, 2026Quarterly reports due; CMS refreshes funding data
- Dec 1, 2026OSU technology cooperative enrollment forms and OHCA EHR vendor RFI due
- Dec 31, 2026OHCA HIE and EHR Assistance requests due
- Jan 2027Year 2 funding opportunities begin launching
- Jul 31, 2027Subrecipients must spend and invoice all Year 1 funds
- Dec 31, 2028Nutrition education deadline
- 2030Final year of the five-year program
Implications
What this means
For rural hospitals
Regional reorientation grants of up to $4 million and the rural provider collaborative network are the largest Year 1 lines. OHCA's HIE and EHR Assistance is open through December 31, 2026, and telestroke and lung cancer screening sites are still being added.
For partners and vendors
Oklahoma spreads the work across OSDH, OHCA, the State Department of Education, Oklahoma State University, the Health Workforce Training Commission and regional development groups, so watch each one's postings on the RHTP Funding page. State contracts, such as the community paramedicine consulting RFP, run through the Oklahoma Supplier Portal, and OHCA is gathering EHR vendor information now.
For applicants and grantees
Line up a UEI, SAM.gov registration, an Oklahoma Supplier ID and the required insurance before a round opens. Subrecipients report on Oklahoma's CMS metrics and must spend and invoice Year 1 funds by July 31, 2027.
FAQ
Oklahoma RHTP FAQs
Who runs Oklahoma's Rural Health Transformation Program?
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) runs Oklahoma's Rural Health Transformation Program, using federal funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Gov. Kevin Stitt designated OSDH as lead agency, and it shares some programs with partner agencies such as the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. OSDH posts funding opportunities and answers questions at OklahomaRHTP@health.ok.gov. The program is Oklahoma's share of the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
How much RHTP funding did Oklahoma receive?
Oklahoma received $223,476,948 for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Program, 5th of 50 states. Every state got $100 million in baseline funding, and the rest of Oklahoma's award was based on its rural needs, its policy commitments and the strength of its plan. Later years depend on Oklahoma's progress.
Can Oklahoma RHTP funding pay for construction?
No. RHTP funds can't pay for new construction, demolition or major expansions. Up to 20% of Oklahoma's award each year, about $44.7 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma's plan, up to 15% of the award each year, about $33.5 million in Year 1. They can't raise rates for services providers already bill.
Where can I see how Oklahoma is spending its RHTP funding?
The RHTP Year One Report tracks how much of Oklahoma'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. Awards made after July 31, such as Rural Regional Reorientation grants to 20 organizations, will appear after the next CMS refresh.
The Alliance
RHT Alliance members serving Oklahoma
These RHT Alliance members serve Oklahoma providers, with support that spans virtual nursing, virtual care, remote monitoring, health 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 Oklahoma's money as it moves
The RHTP Year One Report tracks obligations, initiatives and recipients for all 50 states after each CMS data release.