Program Overview
Alaska's Rural Health Transformation Program is in active statewide implementation, managed by the Department of Health with Advisory Council guidance and extensive stakeholder engagement. Year 2 features a streamlined Fall 2026 funding cycle emphasizing EMS, care coordination, behavioral health, value-based care readiness, technology upgrades, and workforce development, structured around six interconnected priority initiatives. The program continues to utilize updated evaluation frameworks and regular regional meetings, applicant convenings, and webinars to monitor progress and incorporate feedback. Current structured plan tracks 23 key initiatives and 26 strategic goals.
Updated
County-level estimates averaged across Alaska — % of adults 18+ unless noted. Delta vs US county average shown in red/green.
pp = percentage points vs US county average
County Drilldown (30)
| County | Pop | Poverty | Uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Municipality | 288,976 | 8.9% | 5.3% |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 112,988 | 10.0% | 6.9% |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | 95,460 | 6.1% | 2.8% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | 60,413 | 11.8% | 7.2% |
| Juneau City and Borough | 31,794 | 8.9% | 4.8% |
| Bethel Census Area | 18,394 | 25.6% | 22.0% |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 13,768 | 8.7% | 5.0% |
| Kodiak Island Borough | 12,771 | 8.7% | 6.0% |
| North Slope Borough | 10,810 | 11.1% | 12.6% |
| Nome Census Area | 9,866 | 21.5% | 20.8% |
| Sitka City and Borough | 8,368 | 7.5% | 6.5% |
| Kusilvak Census Area | 8,176 | 32.4% | 32.2% |
AI source: AK - 2026 - Webinars and Regional Meetings for Alaska RHTP Year 2 Applicants
AI auto-updated Oct 13, 2026
API refreshed May 7, 2026
Key signals are summarized here. Open the source for the supporting detail.
239,408 rural residents
The Alaska Department of Health has completed its Year 1 RHTP funding cycle, awarding 254 projects totaling just under $249 million and advancing transformative work statewide. The Year 2 fall funding cycle is open for applications, with updated guidance and resource tools available to applicants. Applications are due October 28, 2026, and new subawards are expected to begin in early 2027. Statewide convening and further funding cycles are scheduled to sustain program momentum and strategy alignment. State opportunities: 1 active (1 open, 2 past/closed), $30.0M listed funding. Key opportunities: Alaska RHTP Year 2 Fall Funding Cycle (First of Two); Alaska RHTP Implementation Pathway — Full Application, Round 1; Alaska Rural Health Transformation Program – Letter of Interest (LOI) Round 1. Strategy alignment: supports workforce, telehealth, care access priorities.
Alaska’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) maintains a regionally responsive, systemwide investment across six priority areas, with continuous improvement informed by stakeholder and community input. For Year 2, the program builds on previous cycles by refining application guidance, increasing applicant support, and prioritizing EMS, care coordination, and pay-for-value readiness, reflecting updated federal and state direction. Advisory Council oversight, regional convenings, transparent reporting, and ongoing technical assistance remain central to adaptive management and measurable progress toward rural health system transformation.
Model
A regionally responsive, community-led, multi-initiative model integrating workforce development, technology modernization, value-based care, and health system integration; delivered through phased funding cycles, Advisory Council oversight, cross-sector partnerships, continuous technical assistance, adaptive regional planning, and direct stakeholder input.
Key Initiatives (23)
Timeline: Year 2: Fall funding cycle opens September 30–October 28, 2026; two planned funding cycles for the year. Ongoing statewide and regional implementation continues through 2030 with phased annual and multi-year funding, Advisory Council oversight, annual review, updated application processes, regional meetings, learning events, applicant convenings, ongoing technical assistance, refined guidance, and milestone reporting.
This document outlines Alaska's approach to balancing Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding across service areas, initiatives, applicant types, and service types. Portfolio analysis ensures equitable project selection and compliance with federal category caps. Emphasis is placed on serving rural and underserved Alaskans, behavioral health, ch...
This document details the criteria and scoring system used by Alaska's RHTP for advancing projects to portfolio review. It establishes evaluation standards for alignment with RHTP goals, rural health impact, feasibility, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and collaborative engagement. The scoring process is designed to ensure only strong, well-aligned an...
This document outlines the criteria and scoring rubric Alaska uses to evaluate RHTP funding proposals. Criteria include alignment with RHTP goals, demonstrated community need, strength and measurability of outcomes, rural impact, partnerships, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and implementation feasibility. Proposals are expected to clearly link projec...
Alaska Department of Health
Grouped files
3 related documents
AK - 2026 - Alaska Department of Health Announces First Group of RHTP Awards
Press Release — First Group of RHTP Awards
AK - 2026 - Notice of Intent to Award
Award Notice Spreadsheet (19 projects)
AK - 2026 - Recent Updates: Year 1 Funding Announcements
Alaska RHTP Year 1 funding announcement
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Grouped files
13 related documents
AK - 2026 - Department of Health | State of Alaska | Department of Health
Auto-grouped context match (37%)
AK - 2026 - Alaska RHTP
Auto-grouped context match (39%)
AK - 2025 - Alaska RHTP
Auto-grouped context match (38%)
AK - 2026 - Alaska’s RHTP
Auto-grouped context match (38%)
AK - 2026 - Alaska RHTP Subrecipient Eligibility
Auto-grouped context match (38%)
AK - 2026 - Alaska RHTP (021826-press-release-letter-of-interest-portal-opens-for-alaska-rural-health-transformation-program)
Auto-grouped context match (39%)
AK - 2026 - RHTP Project Narrative
Primary source
AK - 2026 - Current Section Overview (rural-health-transformation-program)
Consolidated support doc
AK - 2026 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Consolidated supporting doc
AK - 2026 - State of Alaska Department of Health (ak-rhtp-advisory-council-presentation-260422)
Auto-grouped context match (38%)
AK - 2026 - Department of Health Learning Opportunity and Outreach Updates
Auto-grouped context match (38%)
AK - 2026 - RHTP Advisory Council Meeting Minutes – March 20, 2026
Auto-grouped context match (37%)
AK - 2026 - Advisory Council Meeting Agenda - April 22, 2026
Auto-grouped context match (38%)
Due Oct 28, 2026· ⏰ 9 days left
8 related documents
AK - 2026 - Year 2 Fall Funding Cycle Alaska RHTP, State of Alaska, Department of Health
Official Alaska RHTP Year 2 Fall Funding Cycle award notice
AK - 2026 - Alaska RHTP: Year 2 Funding Strategy Pay for Value Readiness Focus Area
Pay for Value Readiness focus area — implementation pathway ($10M target)
AK - 2026 - Funding Updates & Upcoming Events Alaska RHTP
AK DOH email digest: RHTP Announcements — Year 2 Funding Cycle Updates
AK - 2026 - RHTP Updates: Year 1 Funding Announcements, Year 2 Fall Funding Cycle, and Opportunities to Engage
Alaska DOH Year 2 fall cycle update and applicant guidance
AK - 2026 - Alaska RHTP Funding Announcements, Year 2 Fall 2026 Application Guidance, FAQs, and Federal/State Program Details
Auto-linked process guidance fallback (9%)
AK - 2026 - Fall 2026 RHTP Applicant Resource Guide
Auto-linked process guidance fallback (8%)
AK - 2026 - Apply - Grant Lifecycle Manager
Real application portal (Grant Lifecycle Manager, via Alaska Community Foundation)
AK - 2026 - Webinars and Regional Meetings for Alaska RHTP Year 2 Applicants (rhtp-events)
Auto-linked process guidance fallback (8%)
Alaska Department of Health
Due Jun 22, 2026
2 related documents
AK - 2026 - Current Section Overview
Source listing page
Alaska Department of Health
Due Mar 11, 2026
9 related documents
AK - 2026 - RHTP Funding Opportunity: Letter of Interest Portal Open
AK Online Public Notice – LOI portal open
| FY↓ | Awardee↕ | Amount↕ | Activity↕ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 32 projects (community organizations selected via RHTP) Funds awarded to 32 projects as part of Alaska RHTP Year 1 to drive rural health transformation with a focus on care coordination, infrastructure, workforce development, cybersecurity, health IT upgrades, new technologies, and alternative payment model pilots. | $25.8M | Other | |
| 2026 | The Greater Fairbanks Community Hospital Foundation Team-Based, Value-Driven Primary Care Transformation in Interior Alaska — Foundation Health Partners proposes to transform the primary care system in Interior Alaska from an overburdened physician-centric fragmented, and reactive model to a patient-centered, coordinated, team based, technology enabled system that delivers timely, preventive, and continuous care for rural and frontier residents. The project will develop the clinic, IT, data and workforce infrastructure, and core competencies necessary for long-term participation in value-based care arrangements. | $16.0M | — | |
| 2026 | Southcentral Foundation Expansion of Specialty Pediatric Services — Southcentral Foundation proposes to expand its Specialty Pediatric Clinic, a critical statewide access point that addresses gaps in specialized care for Alaska Native and American Indian children with complex medical and developmental needs across Alaska, including those from rural, remote, and frontier communities who must travel for care. | $3.6M | — | |
| 2026 | Southcentral Foundation Traditional Healing Project — Southcentral Foundation proposes to integrate traditional healing practices at its rural community health centers, standard clinical services, and the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC), by expanding the Traditional Healing practitioner base; creating an Alaska traditional healing network and exchange; and improving long-term sustainability. This project will have state-wide impact through ANMC services and addresses the need for traditional wellness practices, such as ceremony, ritual, emotional and spiritual support beyond its clinic at the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center. | $1.4M | — | |
| 2026 | Southcentral Foundation Yeshjesh T'uh Crisis Project — Southcentral Foundation’s Yeshjesh T’uh Crisis Project proposes strengthening system capacity by providing new innovative services, connecting the gaps in fragmented systems, and increasing access to culturally competent mental health and substance use disorder services in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas here in Alaska. The proposed Yeshjesh T’uh Crisis Project provides high-intensity behavioral health services, including crisis stabilization and crisis residential care, for individuals from rural and remote Alaska communities. | $5.8M | — | |
| 2026 | Southcentral Foundation Chitina Community Health Clinic Expansion — Southcentral Foundation proposes to expand resources at the Chitina Community Clinic (located along the Edgerton Highway, south of Glennallen but east of Tonsina and northwest of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve), improving the use of space for customer-owners* and providers, purchasing a vehicle, and providing community outreach for permanent residents and visitors to increase encounters at the clinic and thereby improve the financial stability of the community health center. *SCF term for individuals they serve, instead of patient | $281K | — | |
| 2026 | Southcentral Foundation Rural Pharmacy Upgrade — Southcentral Foundation (SCF) proposes to improve pharmacy facilities and replace outdated secure, pharmacy-monitored, medicine-dispensing units (called “PickPoints”) in 14 rural clinics from Chitina to St. Paul, bringing SCF’s telepharmacies into functional alignment with security, software, and environmental needs, and making any minor modification necessary to ensure security, safety, and connectivity. | $1.5M | — | |
| 2026 | Southcentral Foundation Expanding Access to Pharmacy Services in the Mat-Su Valley — Southcentral Foundation proposes installing medication lockers at the Benteh Nuutah Primary Care Center (BNPCC) to improve access to pharmacy services and expand medication pick-up options for Alaska Native and American Indian, and Veterans residing in the Mat-Su region. | $210K | — | |
| 2026 | Providence Health & Services- Washington Coordinating to Drive Redesign and Sustainability of Alaska's Graduate Medical Education Programs — Providence Health & Services -Washington proposes to strengthen workforce capacity by stabilizing and enhancing the Alaska Family Medicine Residency Program. This project invests in recruitment, rural training, faculty development, and clinical training infrastructure to address Alaska’s shortage of primary care physicians and limited in-state residency capacity. This work supports a critical physician pipeline serving rural, frontier, and geographically dispersed communities across Alaska. | $4.6M | — | |
| 2026 | Providence Health & Services- Washington Dual-Eligible Value-Based Care (VBC) Model Design and Readiness Initiative — Providence Health & Services – Washington proposes to design a provider-led, statewide value-based care framework for Alaska’s dual-eligible population. The project addresses fragmented Medicare-Medicaid financing, rising costs, avoidable utilization, and care coordination barriers affecting rural Alaskans with complex needs. The analytic, payment-design, and implementation roadmap will be built to support future voluntary alternative payment models and integrated care arrangements. | $854K | — |
Alaska Department of Health announces the close-out of Year 1 RHTP awards, totaling nearly $249 million across 254 projects, and launches the Year 2 fall funding cycle. Five new projects received $4.8 million in awards, supporting EMS, elder care coordination, and behavioral health clinic infrastructure. New applicant guidance and additional resources are available for the Year 2 cycle, with statewide convening scheduled for early 2027. Event schedule: - Application Deadline for Fall Cycle - 10/28/2026 - 11:59 PM - Year 2 Statewide Convening - January 6-7, 2027 - AKT - Anchorage
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
On September 4, 2026, Alaska DOH issued its fifth round of RHTP Year 1 Notices of Intent to Award, totaling $25.8 million across 32 projects. The overall awarded funding since program launch now exceeds $207 million. Priorities for this cycle include workforce development, care coordination, infrastructure improvements, tech upgrades, and payment model pilots. Event schedule: - Year 1 Funding Webinar - September 11, 2026 - 2:00–3:00 PM - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zF2D9I8VR-6LzRmtwcFJuw?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
The document announces $249M in cumulative awards across 254 projects aimed at transforming rural health care in Alaska. Investments target multiple key areas including access to care, health IT, workforce, financial sustainability, maternal health, and community wellness.
The Alaska Department of Health is launching Year 2 of the Rural Health Transformation Program funding opportunity, expected to allocate $10 million to projects focused on value-based payment readiness. Applicants include hospitals, clinics, tribal health organizations, and other rural providers. Funding is targeted to data, care coordination, and operational readiness investments, building provider capacity for value-based care models.
Core Initiatives
This document outlines Alaska's approach to balancing Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding across service areas, initiatives, applicant types, and service types. Portfolio analysis ensures equitable project selection and compliance with federal category caps. Emphasis is placed on serving rural and underserved Alaskans, behavioral health, chronic disease, maternal health, technology, and workforce development.
Core Initiatives
Alaska RHTP's Year 2 Funding Strategy aims to improve care coordination at the point of hospital discharge, leveraging both provider-level investments and expanded statewide health information exchange (HIE) capabilities. Up to $10 million is allocated for projects supporting data infrastructure, workforce capacity, workflow redesign, and readiness. Organizations can apply for funds to build EHR and HIE connectivity, automate discharge notifications, and redesign workflows to improve timely, coordinated transitions and follow-up care.
Core Initiatives
Day 2 of Alaska’s RHTP convening emphasized the state’s leadership in program implementation, technology-enabled transformation, and stakeholder partnerships. Sessions featured perspectives from state government, tribal health, and technology experts, highlighting the goals of system-level change, sustainable outcomes, and workforce innovation. Discussion focused on practical, scalable health IT solutions and the importance of local readiness, collaboration, and sustainability planning. Event schedule: - RHTP Day 2 Convening - Anchorage, Alaska
Core Initiatives
The first year of Alaska's RHTP saw overwhelming demand with nearly 1,800 LOIs and $2.5B in requests, reduced to 365 full proposals and $272M awarded. The Department of Health, in partnership with the Alaska Community Foundation, is finalizing awards for 2026–2027 with implementation expected to begin in August. Major priorities include behavioral health, EMS, care access, health IT, and workforce, with new public dashboards and regional planning processes underway to improve transparency, geographic reach, and collaboration. Key contacts: Emily Ricci; Betsy Wood; Alison Miller; Julie Sanbei Event schedule: - Full Application Submission Window - 06/01/2026–06/22/2026 - Online portal - Earliest Implementation Award Start - 08/01/2026 - N/A - First Annual Report Due to CMS - 08/31/2026 - N/A - Next Advisory Council Meeting (anticipated) - 08/15/2026 - Virtual
Event Schedule
Contacts
Core Initiatives
Alaska's RHTP application outlines systemic, multi-faceted rural health challenges—geographic isolation, severe workforce shortages, pronounced health disparities, and outdated infrastructure. It proposes six major cross-cutting initiatives focused on maternal/child health, care access, healthy communities, fiscal sustainability, workforce development, and technology innovation. Key strategic goals include closing health outcome gaps, advancing payment reform for financial stability, and leveraging Alaska's history of telehealth and Tribal partnership innovation.
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
This document outlines Alaska's RHTP portfolio analysis criteria, designed to ensure balanced geographic, population, and service coverage in state funding. The review considers federal budget caps in categories including administration, provider payments, health IT, capital, and workforce. Diverse service types, populations, and project entities are encouraged for equitable rural health transformation impact.
Core Initiatives
This document is an agenda for an upcoming Advisory Council meeting relating to the Rural Health Transformation Program in Alaska, focusing on updates for RHTP Year 1 and discussion of Year 2. Event schedule: - Advisory Council Meeting - 09/23/2026 - 8:00-10:00 a.m. - Dena’ina Center
Event Schedule
This document provides the agenda for the upcoming RHTP Advisory Council meeting scheduled for August 17, 2026, including updates on RHTP implementation awards and regional planning highlights. Event schedule: - Advisory Council Meeting - August 17, 2026 - 9-11:00 a.m. - Teleconference
This is an agenda for a virtual advisory council meeting focusing on updates and planning related to the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). No awards or funding information is provided. Event schedule: - Advisory Council Meeting - 04/22/2026 - 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM - Teleconference
AK RHTP site updated — 4 new, 1 existing source(s) refreshed
AK - 2026 - Updated materials now available online Alaska RHTP, State of Alaska, Department of Health
Oct 16, 2026 18:12
·EmailAK - 2026 - Year 2 Fall Funding Cycle Alaska RHTP, State of Alaska, Department of Health
Oct 9, 2026 21:26
·EmailAK RHTP site updated — 4 new, 2 existing source(s) refreshed
AK - 2026 - Application Portal Now Open Alaska RHTP
Sep 30, 2026 21:03
·EmailSpreadsheets, data exports, and reference documents — available for download but excluded from the main activity feed.
AK - 2026 - DRAFT Portfolio Review Criteria for Alaska RHTP Planning Applications
2026 · PDF
AK - 2026 - Portfolio Analysis Criteria for Alaska RHTP Application Funding Round
2026 · PDF
AK - 2026 - RHTP Application Review Criteria – Alaska
2026 · PDF
AK - 2026 - Alaska RHTP: Opportunity for Public Comment on Fall 2026 Evaluation Frameworks
HTML
AK - 2026 - Grant Guidelines
2026 · PDF
AK - 2026 - Grant Guidelines
2026 · PDF
AK - 2026 - Competitive Grant Guidelines
2024 · PDF
AK - 2026 - SCF's Mini-Grant Guidelines
2024 · PDF
Alaska FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Alaska WIC And Pacify Health Partner To Expand Access To Breastfeeding Support Services The Six-year Partnership Provides Free 24/7 Virtual Lactation S
2024 · PDF
AK - 2026 - RHTP Advisory Council Meeting Minutes – April 22, 2026
2026 · PDF
RHTP Impacts Series Session 2 Recap: Health Care Access & Strengthen Workforce
HTML
AK - 2026 - Press Release: May 20, 2026, Alaska Department of Health Launches Next Move Campaign During Mental Health Awareness Month PDF 05/20/2026
AK - 2026 - Press Release: May 20, 2026, New Online Application For DPA Services PDF 05/21/2026
Subscription Change Confirmation
AK - 2025 - Press Release: November 10, 2025, Health Analytics and Vital Records Section Releases Data Reports On Health Facilities, Vital Statistics And Cancer PDF 11/10/2025
2024 · PDF
AK - 2025 - Press Release: August 28, 2025, Statewide Effort To Prevent Overdose Deaths In Alaska PDF 08/28/2025
AK - 2025 - January 6, 2025, Anchorage DPA Office Now Open Press Release PDF 01/06/2025
AK - 2025 - Press Release: September 11, 2025, Alaska Department Of Health Launches Healthy Is Campaign And Statewide Coloring Contest PDF 09/11/2025
AK - 2025 - Press Release: November 19, 2025, Benjamin Watson Recognized as Alaska’s “Community Star” on National Rural Health Day PDF 11/19/2025
AK - 2025 - Press Release: June 27, 2025, DPA Launches Pilot Program to Strengthen Provider and Community Support PDF 06/27/2025
2025 · PDF
AK - 2024 - Press Release: Online SNAP Application Now Live (January 5, 2024) PDF 01/05/2024
AK - 2025 - Public Guidance: October 31, 2025, Fish Consumption (Typhoon Halong) PDF 10/31/2025
AK - 2025 - Press Release: October 15, 2025, Statewide Red Ribbon Week Door Decorating Contest PDF 10/15/2025
AK - 2025 - Press Release: November 12, 2025, Free Support To Quit Tobacco And A Meal To Make Quitting Easier PDF 11/12/2025
AK - 2025 - Press Release: December 2, 2025, Alaska SNAP Recipients Granted Temporary Hot Foods Waiver Following Western Alaska Storm Damage PDF 12/02/2025
2025 · PDF
AK - 2025 - Press Release: December 9, 2025, State of Alaska Secures $7.8 Million Settlement from Juul and Altria for Targeting Alaskan Youth PDF 12/09/2025
AK - 2025 - Medicaid Recipient Handbook
2025 · PDF
Alaska BARRIER CRIMES MATRIX FOR THE BARRIER CRIMES LISTED IN 7 AAC 10.905 RHTP 2020 Guidance
AK - 2026 - Alaska Department of Health Announces First Group of RHTP Awards
Auto-linked process guidance fallback (7%)
RHTP Webinar in March
Alaska RHTP program page
AK - 2025 - Alaska Landing Page (updated: May 29, 2026)
AHHA RHTP page — LOI outcome update
AK - 2026 - Alaska RHTP Initiative Guidance: Eligible Populations, Provider Types, and Federal Budget Limits (June 2026)
Auto-linked process guidance fallback (7%)
AK - 2025 - RHTP Letters of Interest: Summary of Submissions and Outcomes
Auto-linked process guidance fallback (7%)
AK - 2026 - Advisory Council Meeting
Auto-linked process guidance fallback (7%)
AK - 2026 - Advisory Council Meeting July 1, 2026
Auto-linked process guidance fallback (8%) shared-signal
AK - 2026 - Advisory Council Meeting Year 1 Progress Update for Alaska RHTP
Auto-linked process guidance fallback (8%)
AK - 2024 - Connect, Learn, and Collaborate at Upcoming Alaska Health Conferences Alaska RHTP, State of Alaska, Department of Health Update on RHTP Year 1…
Auto-linked process guidance fallback (7%)
Alaska Department of Health issued Notices of Intent to Award for Year 1 RHTP funding totaling $6.9 million to seven projects across rural service areas. The overall CMS/HHS RHTP award is $272,174,855, focusing on system-level transformation for Alaska's rural health services. Year 2 funding cycle launches September 30, 2026, with updated application processes, three new focus areas, and two rounds of funding opportunities. Event schedule: - Year 2 Funding Cycle Opens - 09/30/2026 - 1:00 PM AKT - Year 2 Funding Cycle Closes - 10/28/2026 - 11:59 PM AKT - Public Comment Due for Evaluation Frameworks - October 9, 2026 - 5:00 PM AKT - Year 2 Application Walkthrough Webinar - October 1, 2026 - 1:00 PM AKT - Applicant Support Webinar - October 2, 2026 - 1:00 PM AKT
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
Alaska's RHTP Year 1 awards have reached a projected $239M as of September 18, 2026, spanning 244 projects with funding distributed across six strategic initiatives. Year 2 introduces operational improvements, streamlined applications, and enhanced applicant support. Six core rural health transformation priorities remain central, while the application cycle features state and region-specific convenings and webinars. Event schedule: - RHTP Applicant Convening - 09/23/2026 - AKT - Year 2 Fall Funding Cycle Opens - 09/30/2026 - AKT - Application Walkthrough Webinar - 10/01/2026 - AKT - Applicant Support Webinar - 10/02/2026 - AKT - Regional Planning Meeting Utqiaġvik - 10/27/2026 - AKT - Utqiaġvik - Regional Planning Meeting Kodiak - 11/09/2026 - AKT - Kodiak - Regional Planning Meeting Juneau - 11/17/2026 - AKT - Juneau
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
The Alaska Department of Health announced $16.8 million in new awards across 24 projects as part of Alaska's RHTP Year 1 cycle, bringing the total to nearly $182 million in awarded funding. Projects focus on workforce pipeline, expanding specialty and emergency care access via technology, and strengthening systems for behavioral health, maternal/child health, and complex care. More awards and updates are forthcoming as Year 1 continues. Event schedule: - Notice of Intent to Award - 08/28/2026 - AKT
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
Core Initiatives
This document details the criteria and scoring system used by Alaska's RHTP for advancing projects to portfolio review. It establishes evaluation standards for alignment with RHTP goals, rural health impact, feasibility, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and collaborative engagement. The scoring process is designed to ensure only strong, well-aligned and impactful projects move forward.
Core Initiatives
This document outlines the criteria and scoring rubric Alaska uses to evaluate RHTP funding proposals. Criteria include alignment with RHTP goals, demonstrated community need, strength and measurability of outcomes, rural impact, partnerships, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and implementation feasibility. Proposals are expected to clearly link project activities to state and federal initiatives and to demonstrate significant, well-supported benefits for rural Alaskans.
Core Initiatives
Alaska DOH is advancing a strategic transformation of its rural EMS landscape through RHTP funding, targeting foundational improvements in data infrastructure, workforce training, and operational readiness. Up to $10 million is estimated to be allocated to subrecipient projects, encouraging collaborative efforts by EMS agencies, hospitals, Tribal Health Organizations, and others. Investments will connect EMS information systems, promote EHR adoption, and foster quality improvement across diverse rural communities.
Core Initiatives
Alaska’s 2026 RHTP plan is built around six themed initiatives—including Healthy Beginnings, Health Care Access, Healthy Communities, Pay for Value, Strengthen Workforce, and Spark Technology—to modernize rural health delivery across the state. The document lays out detailed, allowable uses of RHTP funds for infrastructure, workforce, IT, prevention, delivery system, and payment reforms. The plan emphasizes locally led, culturally appropriate strategies, and strong attention to Alaska’s unique geography, Tribal partnerships, and workforce pipeline challenges. Event schedule: - Last Revised - 2026-02-19
Core Initiatives
This session convened rural health stakeholders across Alaska to address workforce as the foremost challenge in rural health transformation. Key strategies include 'grow your own' workforce pipelines, meaningful retention incentives, data-driven planning, and integrated team-based care. Alaska received approximately $272M in RHTP funding to support long-term, scalable solutions. Key contacts: Heidi Hedberg; Anne Zink; Lisa Rabinowitz Event schedule: - Strengthening Workforce Session - 03/24/2026 - AK - Statewide virtual session, Alaska Department of Health
Contacts
Core Initiatives
Alaska launched an RHTP Impact Series session to catalyze rural health transformation, focusing on value-based care and fiscal sustainability. The session identified workforce, payment reform, data, and community-clinical integration as priorities and showcased successful models already operating in Alaska. The discussion underscored Alaska's potential to expand value-based care and highlighted the challenges and strategies ahead. Event schedule: - RHTP Impacts: Pay for Value Kickoff Session - 04/01/2026 - AKT - Alaska Department of Health
Core Initiatives
This document details the reviewer criteria and score thresholds for advancing Alaska RHTP planning projects to portfolio-level review. It outlines expectations for alignment with federal and state goals, rural population impact, transformation potential, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, partnerships, and workplan clarity. All areas outside Anchorage are considered rural and eligible if project impact can be demonstrated.
Core Initiatives
This guidance describes the evaluation criteria for Alaska's RHTP applications, including alignment with federal and state goals, demonstrated need, measurable outcomes, rural impact, transformative potential, partnerships, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and workplan feasibility. Projects must show explicit alignment with Alaska and federal RHTP initiatives, and impact outside Anchorage is considered rural. Reviewers assess proposals on a scale from 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent), with detailed definitions across core assessment domains.
Core Initiatives
Event Schedule