RCJ is ready for RHTP Year 2: a 50-state readiness report and a step-by-step guide

Budget Period 2 of the Rural Health Transformation Program began on October 31, 2026, and CMS announced every state's Year 2 award on November 9. Rural Care Journey is now updated for Year 2, and we've published two things to help you get ready for the next round of state funding.

📊 New report: RHTP Year 2 Readiness, State by State

All 50 states in one table: federal awards to date (Year 1 + Year 2, to the cent from CMS), how far each state's CMS-listed initiatives have moved, its policy commitments, and whether rural providers can apply for its RHTP funding right now. States are grouped by three simple signals, not ranked:

• 12 states meet all three signals
• 70% of the 322 CMS-listed initiatives are at Stage 2 or later
• 69 RHTP solicitations are open (47) or upcoming (22), in 25 states
• Year 2 awards are up in 25 states and down in 25

🧭 New guide: How to Prepare for RHTP Year 2 Funding with Rural Care Journey

Whether you're new to RCJ or already using it, the guide walks you through five steps, with links straight to the page you need:

1. Read your state's readiness signals
2. Work through your state page: federal awards, CMS status, opportunities and Year 1 awardees
3. Catch the next round early with filters, saved lists, keyword alerts and the Daily Brief
4. Prepare the application with Opportunity Intelligence and Start Application
5. For vendors: position yourself with Year 1 awardees and the initiatives that are moving

What else changed on RCJ for Year 2

• Every state page now shows federal awards to date with the Year 1 + Year 2 split, the same figure across the site and the API.
• State awards to local organizations are tagged by budget period (BP1 / BP2) where the source dates them.
• Year 2 "Round 2" or "Phase 2" programs are listed as their own opportunities with their own deadlines.

See how each state's award changed in RHTP Year 2 Awards: Who Gained and Who Lost, and browse open RHTP opportunities.

Questions about your state's Year 2 plans? Ask below. 👇