Technology and Infrastructure
Modernizes the P3N health information exchange, adds telehealth and AI tools through regional hubs, and funds mobile health units and community wellness hubs.
RHTP state profile · Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Rural Health Transformation Program
Pennsylvania received $193.3 million in Year 1 of the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program, 34th of 50 states. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) runs the program, which funds six initiatives across rural Pennsylvania, from technology and maternal health hubs to EMS, aging services and workforce, guided by eight regional Rural Care Collaboratives.
Year 1 awards, all 50 statesPA: $193.3M
Texas $281.3MNew Jersey $147.3M
$193.3MYear 1 award, 34th of 50
6Funded initiatives
50 / 67Pennsylvania counties are RHTP-eligible rural counties
DHSPennsylvania Department of Human Services
Spending data in the RHTP Year One Report covers December 29, 2025 to July 31, 2026, the latest CMS reporting window.
At a glance
Pennsylvania's program at a glance
The award is fixed for the year. Spending moves every quarter, so Pennsylvania'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$193,294,054, 34th of 50 states
Run byPennsylvania Department of Human Services
Budget Period 1December 29, 2025 to October 30, 2026
Initiatives6
Eligible rural counties50 of 67
Spending data through July 31, 2026Pennsylvania's section of the Year One Report →Initiatives
What does Pennsylvania's RHTP fund?
Pennsylvania's RHTP funds six initiatives across technology, maternal health, behavioral health, aging, EMS and workforce. DHS leads with the Departments of Health, Aging, Insurance, and Drug and Alcohol Programs, and every project must tie back to one of the six. Eight regional Rural Care Collaboratives set local priorities, and Rapid Response Stabilization payments fund near-term needs in Years 1 and 2.
Maternal Health
Regional maternal health hubs that coordinate care from before pregnancy through 12 months postpartum, with support for birth centers and labor and delivery units.
Behavioral Health
Expands 988 crisis services, psychiatric consultation for primary care, a statewide telehealth bridge clinic for substance use disorder and tuition awards for peer and recovery specialists.
Aging and Access
Hospital-to-home community paramedicine, quality investments in rural long-term care, nurse aide training and wider access to LIFE (PACE) programs.
EMS and Transportation
Ambulance equipment and Advanced Life Support units, EMS recruitment and retention, regional dispatch triage and more flexible medical transportation.
Workforce
Health career pipelines for rural students, rural training tracks and residencies, short-term trainee housing and educational awards tied to five years of rural service.
Recipients by initiative are in Pennsylvania's section of the RHTP Year One Report.
Source documents
Pennsylvania'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 responding to a Pennsylvania funding opportunity.
PDFDHSPennsylvania Rural Health Transformation PlanThe full plan from DHS, updated February 2026, including all six initiatives and Pennsylvania's policy commitment.PDFDHSPennsylvania RHTP SummaryDHS's short overview of the plan's goals and the eight Rural Care Collaboratives.PDFDHSRHTP Year 1 OverviewDHS webinar slides from March 2026 on Year 1 timelines, funding types and reporting.PDFCMSCMS 50-State SpotlightsCMS's short profile of each state's program, including Pennsylvania's.PDFCMSCMS State Project AbstractsEach state's own summary, side by side.
Eligible rural county (50)Other counties (17)
Eligibility
Which Pennsylvania counties are eligible for RHTP funding?
Pennsylvania's RHTP treats 50 of its 67 counties, those of the fourth through eighth class, as eligible rural counties. Rural census tracts defined by HRSA in the 15 second class A and third class counties are also eligible, which leaves Philadelphia and Allegheny as the only counties with no eligible area. About 2.4 million Pennsylvanians, roughly 19% of residents, live in HRSA-defined rural areas, and each funding opportunity states its own geographic requirements.
How to apply
How can Pennsylvania providers apply for RHTP funding?
Pennsylvania providers apply through DHS funding opportunities posted on its RHTP Funding Opportunities page and in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Most Year 1 rounds were first-come, first-served payments claimed with an eligibility certification, and one long-term care round ran through the PA eMarketplace. No round is open as of November 5, 2026, and DHS has listed upcoming opportunities without dates. 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 DHS lists planned opportunities on its funding page.
- Watch for new rounds.Join the DHS RHTP listserv and check the Funding Opportunities page. Rounds close when the funding cap is met, so apply early.
- Get your documents ready.Recent rounds asked for an entity location list, a budget narrative, a budget worksheet and a FFATA data sheet.
- Register as a Commonwealth vendor and in SAM.gov.Some rounds require Commonwealth vendor registration, and SAM.gov registration is standard for federally funded awards.
- Plan for federal rules.Recipients follow federal grant, reporting and audit rules. A Single Audit applies at $1 million or more in federal spending a year.
Federal terms
Four rules that shape every award
Federal terms follow the money down to every Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania's RHTP funding pay for?
Pennsylvania's RHTP funding can pay for work on existing facilities, uncovered care, technology and administration, within federal caps on each use. Applied to Pennsylvania's Year 1 award, the maximums are:
Capital and infrastructure20% of award
About $38.7M
Provider payments15% of award
About $29.0M
Administrative costs10% of award
About $19.3M
Rural Tech Catalyst Fund10% or $20M, whichever is less
About $19.3M
Replacing an existing EMR system5% of award
About $9.7M
Provider payments and capital
Provider payments cover services insurance doesn't pay for, quality bonuses and outcome-based payments tied to Pennsylvania'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
Pennsylvania's policy commitments carry deadlines
Pennsylvania committed to one policy action in its application. It is done.
PA licensure compact
Pass a law to join the PA Licensure Compact for physician assistants
House Bill 1961 signed October 22, 2026 as Act 76 of 2026Pennsylvania already belongs to the physician, nurse, EMS, psychology, physical therapy and counseling 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 Pennsylvania's spending data
Use the numbers in Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania announcements
Governor Shapiro signs House Bill 1961, joining Pennsylvania to the PA Licensure Compact for physician assistants and meeting the state's RHTP policy commitment.
The Department of Health opens a Long-Term Care Quality Investment Program round of about $2.75 million for rural long-term care facilities, due October 1.
CMS announces $35 million for Pennsylvania's second Rapid Response Stabilization round, up to $1 million per eligible location for equipment, renovations, transportation, behavioral health and maternal care.
DHS authorizes about $42 million in first-round Rapid Response Stabilization projects at rural hospitals and providers, and opens $26.8 million for electronic health records and health information exchange.
DHS announces its first RHTP funding opportunity: $25 million in Rapid Response Stabilization payments of up to $1 million each.
CMS awards Pennsylvania $193.3 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
- May 1, 2026First Rapid Response Stabilization round opens
- Jul 31, 2026End of the first CMS reporting window; Year One Report spending data runs through this date
- Aug 17, 2026Second Rapid Response Stabilization round opens
- Oct 22, 2026PA Licensure Compact law signed
- Oct 30, 2026Budget Period 1 ends
- Nov 30, 2026Quarterly reports due; CMS refreshes funding data
- Dec 31, 2026Target for all eight Rural Care Collaboratives to be staffed and meeting
- Sep 30, 2027Deadline to spend Year 1 funds
- 2030Final year of the five-year program
Implications
What this means
For rural hospitals
Rapid Response Stabilization rounds have paid for equipment, supplies and renovations at rural hospitals, up to $1 million per location, and DHS lists every authorized project online. Watch for the eight Rural Care Collaboratives, which will set regional priorities and are due to be staffed and meeting by the end of 2026.
For partners and vendors
Pennsylvania pays most Year 1 money directly to providers, so vendors usually reach RHTP dollars through the hospitals, clinics and agencies that buy their products. Health records and exchange onboarding run through the state's five certified Health Information Organizations and P3N. EMS, paramedicine, remote maternal monitoring, digital infrastructure and AI, mobile health and workforce are the next planned lanes.
For applicants and grantees
Rounds are first-come, first-served until the cap is met, so prepare certification documents before a window opens. Build tracking for the metrics Pennsylvania reports to CMS. Subrecipients can't opt out of reporting, and their results feed Pennsylvania's annual rescoring.
FAQ
Pennsylvania RHTP FAQs
Who runs Pennsylvania's Rural Health Transformation Program?
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) runs Pennsylvania's Rural Health Transformation Program, working with the Departments of Health, Aging, Insurance, and Drug and Alcohol Programs and using federal funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). DHS manages the state's plan, posts funding opportunities and takes comments on its funding notices at RA-HHRRLHLTHTRNSPLAN@pa.gov. The program is Pennsylvania's share of the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
How much RHTP funding did Pennsylvania receive?
Pennsylvania received $193,294,054 for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Program, 34th of 50 states. Every state got $100 million in baseline funding, and the rest of Pennsylvania's award was based on its rural needs, its policy commitments and the strength of its plan. Later years depend on Pennsylvania's progress.
Can Pennsylvania RHTP funding pay for construction?
No. RHTP funds can't pay for new construction, demolition or major expansions. Up to 20% of Pennsylvania's award each year, about $38.7 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania's plan, up to 15% of the award each year, about $29.0 million in Year 1. They can't raise rates for services providers already bill.
Where can I see how Pennsylvania is spending its RHTP funding?
The RHTP Year One Report tracks how much of Pennsylvania'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 announced after July 31, such as the $35 million second Rapid Response Stabilization round in August 2026, will appear after the next CMS refresh.
The Alliance
RHT Alliance members serving Pennsylvania
These RHT Alliance members serve Pennsylvania providers, with support that spans EHR and billing, virtual nursing, virtual care, remote monitoring, health data, diagnostics, patient education, project management 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.
GHC IndustriesProject management and funding coordination for large transformation initiatives.
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 Pennsylvania's money as it moves
The RHTP Year One Report tracks obligations, initiatives and recipients for all 50 states after each CMS data release.