Access to Emergency Medical Care
Incentive payments that help small critical access hospitals keep emergency, ambulance and labor and delivery services, plus grants for ambulance services that join together regionally.
RHTP state profile · Wyoming
Wyoming Rural Health Transformation Program
Wyoming received $205.0 million in Year 1 of the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program, 21st of 50 states. The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) runs the program, which funds four initiatives in the rural and frontier parts of all 23 counties, from critical access hospitals and regional EMS to workforce training and primary care.
Year 1 awards, all 50 statesWY: $205.0M
Texas $281.3MNew Jersey $147.3M
$205.0MYear 1 award, 21st of 50
4Funded initiatives
23 / 23Wyoming counties are covered by the plan
WDHWyoming 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
Wyoming's program at a glance
The award is fixed for the year. Spending moves every quarter, so Wyoming'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$205,004,742, 21st of 50 states
Run byWyoming Department of Health
Budget Period 1December 29, 2025 to October 30, 2026
Initiatives4
Counties covered23 of 23
Spending data through July 31, 2026Wyoming's section of the Year One Report →Initiatives
What does Wyoming's RHTP fund?
Wyoming's RHTP funds 12 projects grouped under four initiatives: emergency care, workforce, health technology and prevention. Every WDH funding opportunity maps to one of the 12.
Rural Workforce Supply
Education awards for nursing, EMS, behavioral health and physician students who commit to five years of work in Wyoming, new residency slots, and start-up grants for training programs.
Health Technology Transformation
Cost-shared grants for groups of providers adopting technology, a statewide telespecialist platform, a non-emergency transportation coordination platform and shared billing for small EMS agencies.
Make Wyoming Healthy Again
Integrated primary care at health centers and tribal clinics, a care coordination pilot for high-risk Medicare and Medicaid patients, and grants for exercise and healthy eating programs.
Recipients by initiative are in Wyoming's section of the RHTP Year One Report.
Source documents
Wyoming'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 Wyoming solicitation.
PDFWDHWyoming RHTP Project and Budget NarrativesWDH's document library with the approved project and budget narratives, the CMS award notice and public engagement records.PDFWDHWyoming RHTP Year One Award SummariesWDH's August 2026 summaries of each initiative, award allocations, awards by county and applicants by initiative.PDFWDHRural Health Transformation in Wyoming: original applicationThe November 2025 application, including Wyoming's policy commitments. CMS later approved a revised plan without the perpetuity fund and BearCare insurance plan.PDFCMSCMS 50-State SpotlightsCMS's short profile of each state's program, including Wyoming's.PDFCMSCMS State Project AbstractsEach state's own summary, side by side.
County covered by the plan (23)Other counties (0)
Eligibility
Which Wyoming counties are eligible for RHTP funding?
All 23 Wyoming counties are eligible, because the state's plan lists every county as served by each of its four initiatives, with funding aimed at residents of rural and frontier areas. Wyoming defines those areas by census tract and block rather than by county: urban means the tracts the federal Office of Rural Health Policy does not count as rural, essentially the cores of Cheyenne and Casper. Frontier areas are rural blocks that meet USDA's Frontier and Remote Level 2 standard. About 44% of residents live in frontier areas and 30% in rural areas, roughly 424,000 people. Each funding opportunity states its own eligibility rules.
How to apply
How can Wyoming providers apply for RHTP funding?
Wyoming providers apply through Requests for Applications from the Wyoming Department of Health, submitted on its Submittable portal. Vendor contracts, such as the telespecialist, transportation and billing platforms, run as Requests for Proposals through state procurement on Public Purchase. Providers and vendors don't apply to CMS directly.
- Match the work to a project.Funding only goes to work that fits one of the 12 projects under the four initiatives.
- Watch for new rounds.Year 1 applications closed August 2, 2026, and all Year 1 awards are made. Check the WDH RHTP page and the Submittable portal for Year 2 rounds.
- Register in SAM.gov.It is standard for federally funded grants and contracts.
- Plan for federal rules.Year 1 awards are one-year agreements that must be spent by September 30, 2027, and recipients follow federal grant, reporting and audit rules. A Single Audit applies at $1 million or more in federal spending a year.
- Ask WDH directly.Use the contact form on the WDH RHTP page, or call (307) 777-7656.
Federal terms
Four rules that shape every award
Federal terms follow the money down to every Wyoming 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 Wyoming's RHTP funding pay for?
Wyoming's RHTP funding can pay for work on existing facilities, uncovered care, technology and administration, within federal caps on each use. Applied to Wyoming's Year 1 award, the maximums are:
Capital and infrastructure20% of award
About $41.0M
Provider payments15% of award
About $30.8M
Administrative costs10% of award
About $20.5M
Rural Tech Catalyst Fund10% or $20M, whichever is less
$20.0M
Replacing an existing EMR system5% of award
About $10.3M
Provider payments and capital
Provider payments cover services insurance doesn't pay for, quality bonuses and outcome-based payments tied to Wyoming'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
Wyoming's policy commitments carry deadlines
Wyoming committed to five policy actions in its application. One is done: USDA approved its SNAP waiver in March 2026. The plan gives estimated enactment dates for the rest, and CMS can reduce or recover funding if they slip.
SNAP sugary drink and candy restriction
Submit a SNAP waiver restricting soft drinks and candy
USDA approved March 4, 2026; soda restriction starts February 1, 2027, candy in 2028Presidential Fitness Test
Implement the Presidential Fitness Test in primary and secondary schools, as committed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Nutrition education for physicians
Raise nutrition continuing medical education with the Board of Medicine and, if needed, the Legislature
PA licensure compact
Work with the Legislature to join the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact
Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee drafting a bill for the 2027 sessionScope of practice
Expand pharmacist prescribing and dental hygienist practice
Discussed by the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee in May 2026Wyoming already belongs to the physician, nurse, EMS 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 Wyoming's spending data
Use the numbers in Wyoming'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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming'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 Wyoming announcements
Gov. Mark Gordon, Sen. John Barrasso and WDH Director Stefan Johansson announce that all Year 1 awards are made: $91.8 million for emergency care, $56.3 million for workforce, $38.6 million for Make Wyoming Healthy Again and $16.9 million for health technology.
The Rural Health Transformation Advisory Committee approves Year 1 awards, including $48.2 million for critical access hospitals, $23.6 million for EMS regionalization and $30.4 million for integrated primary care.
WDH opens Year 1 Requests for Applications on its Submittable portal, with vendor Requests for Proposals through state procurement.
CMS gives final approval to Wyoming's revised plan, which drops the proposed perpetuity fund and the BearCare emergency insurance plan.
House Bill 122 becomes law, setting up the advisory committee and funding accounts for Wyoming's RHTP initiatives.
USDA approves Wyoming's waiver to remove soda, and later candy, from SNAP purchases.
CMS awards Wyoming $205.0 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 19, 2026CMS final approval of Wyoming's plan
- Jul 31, 2026End of the first CMS reporting window; Year One Report spending data runs through this date. Year 1 vendor proposals due
- Aug 2, 2026Year 1 applications due
- Oct 30, 2026Budget Period 1 ends
- Nov 30, 2026Quarterly reports due; CMS refreshes funding data
- Dec 2026Presidential Fitness Test target date
- Feb 1, 2027SNAP soda restriction begins
- Jul 2027Target date for nutrition education, PA compact and scope of practice
- Sep 30, 2027Year 1 awards must be spent
- 2030Final year of the five-year program
Implications
What this means
For rural hospitals
Critical access hospitals drew the largest share of Year 1 awards, through incentives that sustain emergency, ambulance, trauma and labor and delivery services. Three hospitals denied in Year 1 were encouraged to reapply in Year 2, and $17.6 million left over is going to EMS and obstetric care through fiscal agents working with the Wyoming Hospital Association.
For partners and vendors
Wyoming bought its telespecialist, transportation and billing platforms through state procurement, and routes workforce money through fiscal agents and universities. The advisory committee asked WDH to widen integrated primary care eligibility and loosen EMS consolidation rules for Year 2.
For applicants and grantees
Ambulance services must apply as regional groups; single-agency EMS applications were not eligible in Year 1. Build tracking for the metrics Wyoming reports to CMS before an award lands, since results feed the state's annual rescoring.
FAQ
Wyoming RHTP FAQs
Who runs Wyoming's Rural Health Transformation Program?
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) runs Wyoming's Rural Health Transformation Program, using federal funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). WDH manages the state's plan and posts funding opportunities, and a Rural Health Transformation Advisory Committee set up by state law approves awards. The program is Wyoming's share of the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
How much RHTP funding did Wyoming receive?
Wyoming received $205,004,742 for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Program, 21st of 50 states. Every state got $100 million in baseline funding, and the rest of Wyoming's award was based on its rural needs, its policy commitments and the strength of its plan. Later years depend on Wyoming's progress.
Can Wyoming RHTP funding pay for construction?
No. RHTP funds can't pay for new construction, demolition or major expansions. Up to 20% of Wyoming's award each year, about $41.0 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming's plan, up to 15% of the award each year, about $30.8 million in Year 1. They can't raise rates for services providers already bill.
Where can I see how Wyoming is spending its RHTP funding?
The RHTP Year One Report tracks how much of Wyoming'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. Wyoming made its Year 1 awards in August 2026, so most of them will appear after the next CMS refresh.
The Alliance
RHT Alliance members serving Wyoming
These RHT Alliance members serve Wyoming providers, with support that spans virtual nursing, virtual care, remote monitoring, EHR and 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 Wyoming's money as it moves
The RHTP Year One Report tracks obligations, initiatives and recipients for all 50 states after each CMS data release.