Integrated Rural Population Health Infrastructure
Rural Community Health Networks and care hubs that link clinical, behavioral health and community providers, supported by community health workers.
RHTP state profile · Rhode Island
Rhode Island Rural Health Transformation Program
Rhode Island received $156.2 million in Year 1 of the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program, 48th of 50 states. The Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) runs the program, which funds 13 initiatives across the state's 18 rural towns, from hospital-at-home care and value-based payment to rural workforce training.
Year 1 awards, all 50 statesRI: $156.2M
Texas $281.3MNew Jersey $147.3M
$156.2MYear 1 award, 48th of 50
13Funded initiatives
18 / 39Rhode Island cities and towns are rural
EOHHSRhode Island Executive Office of Health and 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
Rhode Island's program at a glance
The award is fixed for the year. Spending moves every quarter, so Rhode Island'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$156,169,931, 48th of 50 states
Run byRhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Budget Period 1December 29, 2025 to October 30, 2026
Initiatives13
Rural towns18 of 39
Spending data through July 31, 2026Rhode Island's section of the Year One Report →Initiatives
What does Rhode Island's RHTP fund?
Rhode Island's RHTP funds 13 initiatives across community care networks, mobile and home-based care, behavioral and oral health, EMS, workforce, value-based payment and health IT, plus dedicated support for Block Island and the Narragansett Indian Tribe. EOHHS lists each funding opportunity by the initiative it belongs to.
Rural Community-Integrated and Mobile Health Services
Preventive, dental and maternal and child care through mobile units and telehealth sites in schools and community centers.
Expanding Access to Rural Community Resources
Physical accessibility upgrades and disability-competent care at rural providers and community spaces.
Rural EMS Health Access and Integration
Statewide mobile integrated health and community paramedicine, a state EMS academy and stronger island EMS.
Rural Hospital-at-Home Program
Hospital-level acute care in patients' homes, supported by remote monitoring and EMS partners.
Expanding Behavioral Health Services Availability in Rural Regions
A 24/7 crisis stabilization center, recovery community centers and peer navigators.
Strengthening Rural Oral Health Delivery Through Innovation and Integration
Teledentistry triage and a special-care dental center at the Zambarano campus of Eleanor Slater Hospital.
Building Capacity for Block Island Health and Human Services
Home-based care, telehealth and facility upgrades for Block Island Health and Human Services.
Modernizing Health Care Delivery for the Narragansett Indian Tribe
Home-based care, telehealth and facility upgrades for the Tribe's health system.
Rural Workforce Program
Training, clinical placements, education-to-employment pathways and recruitment incentives for rural health workers.
Supporting Hospitals and Primary Care in Value-Based Payment Transition
Incentive payments and technical assistance to move hospitals and primary care practices to value-based payment.
Rural Health Information Technology Modernization Program
A state-sponsored EHR for rural practices and a grant fund for interoperable equipment, software and AI tools.
Rural Health Data and Workforce Tracking System
A data hub and dashboards that track rural health outcomes and where the health workforce is.
Recipients by initiative are in Rhode Island's section of the RHTP Year One Report.
Source documents
Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island solicitation.
PDFEOHHSRhode Island RHT Program Project NarrativeThe full plan from EOHHS, revised February 10, 2026, including all 13 initiatives and Rhode Island's policy commitments.PDFEOHHSRhode Island RHT Project SummaryEOHHS's short overview of the 13 initiatives, updated March 27, 2026.PDFEOHHSRural Health Budget Amendment SummaryThe Year 1 budget for each initiative and the policy changes the state proposed, April 2, 2026.PDFCMSCMS State Project AbstractsEach state's own summary, side by side.
Rural town (18)Other cities and towns (21)
Eligibility
Which Rhode Island towns are eligible for RHTP funding?
Rhode Island's plan focuses on 18 of the state's 39 cities and towns: Burrillville, Charlestown, East Greenwich, Exeter, Foster, Glocester, Hopkinton, Jamestown, Little Compton, New Shoreham (Block Island), North Smithfield, Portsmouth, Richmond, Scituate, Smithfield, Tiverton, West Greenwich and Westerly. The state's Office of Primary Care and Rural Health defines these as rural towns with fewer than 25,000 residents and lower population density, a definition the federal Office of Rural Health Policy approved, and together they are home to about 196,000 people, 17.9% of the state. Each solicitation states its own geographic requirements.
How to apply
How can Rhode Island providers apply for RHTP funding?
Rhode Island providers and vendors apply through procurements and grant applications listed on the EOHHS RHTP page, issued by EOHHS and partners such as BHDDH, the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner and the Hospital Association of Rhode Island. State contracts post on Ocean State Procures, the state procurement site. The most recent posted deadline was November 2, 2026, and new rounds have not been announced. 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 13, and EOHHS lists each opportunity by initiative number.
- Watch for new rounds.Check the procurements table on the EOHHS RHTP page and the Ocean State Procures bid board.
- Register as a vendor.Many awards require a registered state vendor on Ocean State Procures. SAM.gov registration is standard for federally funded grants and contracts.
- 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.
- Ask EOHHS directly.Email OHHS.RIRHTP@ohhs.ri.gov.
Federal terms
Four rules that shape every award
Federal terms follow the money down to every Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island's RHTP funding pay for?
Rhode Island's RHTP funding can pay for work on existing facilities, uncovered care, technology and administration, within federal caps on each use. Applied to Rhode Island's Year 1 award, the maximums are:
Capital and infrastructure20% of award
About $31.2M
Provider payments15% of award
About $23.4M
Administrative costs10% of award
About $15.6M
Rural Tech Catalyst Fund10% or $20M, whichever is less
About $15.6M
Replacing an existing EMR system5% of award
About $7.8M
Provider payments and capital
Provider payments cover services insurance doesn't pay for, quality bonuses and outcome-based payments tied to Rhode Island'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
Rhode Island's policy commitments carry deadlines
Rhode Island committed to four policy actions in its application. All four are done, through the FY 2027 state budget signed June 12, 2026.
Certificate of need reform
Enact legislation reducing the restrictiveness of certificate of need laws
FY 2027 budget (H 7127) signed June 12, 2026 narrows CON reviewPhysician assistant licensure compact
Join the PA Licensure Compact
Joined through the FY 2027 budget, signed June 12, 2026Pharmacist and dental hygienist scope
Expand scope of practice for pharmacists and dental hygienists
FY 2027 budget (H 7127) signed June 12, 2026 lets pharmacists prescribe independently and widens dental hygienist scopeNutrition education for physicians
Enact legislation requiring nutrition continuing medical education
FY 2027 budget (H 7127) signed June 12, 2026 requires one hour of nutrition CME every two yearsRhode Island already belongs to the nurse and psychology 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 Rhode Island's spending data
Use the numbers in Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island announcements
CMS announces $5.48 million for health care career and technical education at 14 rural Rhode Island districts and schools.
Governor McKee signs the FY 2027 state budget, which narrows certificate of need review and adds Rhode Island to the PA Licensure Compact.
Governor McKee submits a budget amendment to spend the Year 1 award, led by $32.2 million for value-based payment and $28.0 million for the rural workforce.
Governor McKee announces Rhode Island's $156 million Year 1 award.
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
- Apr 2, 2026Governor submits the RHTP budget amendment
- Jun 12, 2026FY 2027 budget signed, with CON reform and the PA compact
- Jul 31, 2026End of the first CMS reporting window; Year One Report spending data runs through this date
- Aug 30, 2026Rural Community Health Network applications due
- Oct 30, 2026Budget Period 1 ends
- Nov 2, 2026Value-based payment incentive applications due
- Nov 30, 2026Quarterly reports due; CMS refreshes funding data
- Sep 30, 2027Deadline to spend Year 1 funds
- 2030Final year of the five-year program
Implications
What this means
For rural hospitals
Value-based payment is Rhode Island's largest Year 1 line at $32.2 million, and hospital-at-home programs have $16.2 million, with the Hospital-at-Home round run by the Hospital Association of Rhode Island. Watch for Year 2 rounds in both areas, along with OHIC's value-based payment incentives.
For partners and vendors
Rhode Island routes much of its work through state contracts and intermediaries, including an administrator for the health IT infrastructure fund and a lead organization for each rural town's Community Health Network. Health IT, telehealth, remote monitoring for hospital-at-home care and EMS are the most active technology lanes. Contracts post on Ocean State Procures.
For applicants and grantees
Build tracking for the measures Rhode Island reports to CMS before an award lands. Subrecipients can't opt out of reporting, and their results feed Rhode Island's annual rescoring. Year 1 funds must be spent by September 30, 2027.
FAQ
Rhode Island RHTP FAQs
Who runs Rhode Island's Rural Health Transformation Program?
The Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) runs Rhode Island's Rural Health Transformation Program, working with the Rhode Island Department of Health's Office of Primary Care and Rural Health and using federal funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). EOHHS manages the state's plan, posts funding opportunities and answers questions at OHHS.RIRHTP@ohhs.ri.gov. The program is Rhode Island's share of the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
How much RHTP funding did Rhode Island receive?
Rhode Island received $156,169,931 for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Program, 48th of 50 states. Every state got $100 million in baseline funding, and the rest of Rhode Island's award was based on its rural needs, its policy commitments and the strength of its plan. Later years depend on Rhode Island's progress.
Can Rhode Island RHTP funding pay for construction?
No. RHTP funds can't pay for new construction, demolition or major expansions. Up to 20% of Rhode Island's award each year, about $31.2 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island's plan, up to 15% of the award each year, about $23.4 million in Year 1. They can't raise rates for services providers already bill.
Where can I see how Rhode Island is spending its RHTP funding?
The RHTP Year One Report tracks how much of Rhode Island'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 $5.48 million in September 2026 for health care career and technical education, will appear after the next CMS refresh.
The Alliance
RHT Alliance members serving Rhode Island
These RHT Alliance members serve Rhode Island providers, with support that spans EHR and billing, 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 Rhode Island's money as it moves
The RHTP Year One Report tracks obligations, initiatives and recipients for all 50 states after each CMS data release.