Connecticut

Connecticut has established a Rural Health Advisory Council (RHAC) to gather stakeholder input and support RHTP implementation. The RHAC will meet monthly beginning June 25, 2026, and involve diverse rural health stakeholders to promote awareness and improve rural health outcomes. Event schedule: - First RHAC meeting - 06/25/2026 - Connecticut

Connecticut received a federal cooperative agreement award totaling $154.25 million for its Rural Health Transformation Program supporting modernization of rural health delivery through technology and telehealth. The award period spans 2025 to 2030 with focus on digital inclusion, predictive analytics, and facility upgrades. Key contacts: Daniel Mize Sinclair daniel.sinclair@ct.gov; Julie Vigil julie.vigil@ct.gov Event schedule: - Federal Award Date - 07/23/2026 - Budget Period Start Date - 12/29/2025 - Budget Period End Date - 10/30/2026 - Period of Performance Start Date - 12/29/2025 - Period of Performance End Date - 10/30/2030

Connecticut was awarded $154.2 million for year one and an estimated total of $771 million over five years under the RHT Program to enhance rural health access through workforce development, care coordination, and technology modernization. Legislative proposal Senate Bill 93 outlines state policies to support these goals.

Connecticut's Department of Social Services (DSS) is launching a PACE pilot in Northwest Hills as part of its multi-pronged Rural Health Transformation Program, with a final report and stakeholder engagement preceding an RFP for a PACE Organization. The initiative aims to expand aging-in-place options, reduce hospital and nursing home utilization, and improve population health in rural areas. Application and implementation milestones extend from 2026 through prospective enrollment in 2028. Key contacts: Carrie Amero carrie.amero@ct.gov Event schedule: - Public Informational Webinar - 07/21/2026

Connecticut’s Rural Health Transformation Program aims to address healthcare delivery gaps through technology-driven models, performance-based payments, and targeted investments in workforce and telehealth capacity. The plan responds to documented shortages of primary care, behavioral health, and specialty providers in rural regions, where residents face higher rates of chronic disease, limited transportation, and significant financial strain. By 2031, Connecticut intends to reshape the rural health landscape with integrated care and sustainable facility access points for rural communities. Event schedule: - Updated Project Narrative Date - 2026-03-16 - Connecticut - Spring 2026 Legislative Session - 2026-03-01 - Connecticut - FFY 2031 Performance Target Deadline - 2031-09-30 - Connecticut - Completion of required policy and regulatory actions - 2027-12-31 - Connecticut - Finalization of technical updates for implementation - 2028-12-31 - Connecticut

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Connecticut's Rural Health Transformation Program includes 25+ initiatives targeting aging, behavioral health, technology access, care coordination, and rural workforce infrastructure. Projects include crisis stabilization, digital equity, provider incentives, school-based supports, hospital transformation, shared HIT infrastructure, and coordinated population health outreach in partnership with CT Tribal Nations. The program utilizes both new models (e.g., AI-powered care) and scaling of proven pilots, prioritizing sustainable, scalable transformation.

Connecticut's RHTP funds a $154.2 million statewide rural transformation initiative across aging, behavioral health, IT modernization, hospital transformation, and workforce. Major investments include PACE expansion, hospital right-sizing, HIE, crisis stabilization, rural care pilots, and health workforce. Direct recipient/contractor awards include named health systems, tech, behavioral health, and education entities under competitive or designated assignments.

Connecticut's total RHTP allocation exceeds $154 million for FY 2026-2027, with funds supporting a diverse portfolio: rural hospital transformation and infrastructure, mobile health pilots, mental health expansions, workforce incentives, universal nurse visits, and major investment in health information technology and data analytics. The state's plan emphasizes direct investments to critical access points such as rural hospitals, primary and maternal health, behavioral healthcare, and telehealth capability, along with concerted workforce training, engagement in value-based payment, and addressing the digital divide through modern IT infrastructure. Oversight by DSS is supported by OHS and DMHAS as key state partners. Key contacts: Mehul Dalal Event schedule: - Budget Period 1: Performance Start - 12/29/2025 - Budget Period 1: Performance End - 10/30/2026 - Permissible Spending End - 09/30/2027 - Connecticut Department of Social Services - RHT Budget Narrative Updated - 2026-04-07 - Connecticut

CT DSS is piloting a bundled maternity payment model for Medicaid births, with health equity as a central focus. The bundle will include doulas, payment parity for Certified Nurse Midwives, and strive for improved maternal health outcomes tracked by race and ethnicity. The strategy aims to remedy disparities and incentivize value-based care.

Connecticut received a $154 million grant for the first year of RHTP with potential funding totaling approximately $750 million over five years. The program is implemented by the Department of Social Services in partnership with multiple state agencies, focusing on population health outcomes, workforce, data and technology, and care transformation and stability. Extensive public engagement was conducted to inform the program, including comments, meetings, and listening sessions. Event schedule: - RHTP Application Submission - November 4, 2025

Connecticut is launching a pilot PACE Center in the rural Northwest Hills, funded through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The program aims to serve between 250 and 500 older adults, focusing on integrated medical and social care in a challenging rural region. Program planning includes stakeholder engagement, a feasibility study, and a future RFP to select a PACE organization; expansion to other regions may follow based on pilot results. Key contacts: RHTP-Questions@ct.gov Event schedule: - PACE Feasibility Report Released - June 2025 - PACE RFP Expected Release - Late 2026–Early 2027

Reference: Article 1333e126 C418 4bae B19a 91f70ca147b2 Link: https://www.thechronicle.com/news/air-line-state-park-trail-receives-7-million/article_1333e126-c418-4bae-b19a-91f70ca147b2.html

The program is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services with a leadership team announced in April 2026. The initiative emphasizes transformation in rural health care systems with an emphasis on innovative models and stakeholder collaboration. Public hearings related to resource allocation have been scheduled, indicating ongoing community involvement and planning. Key contacts: Jane Doe jane.doe@ct.gov Event schedule: - Leadership Team Announcement - April 10, 2026 - Connecticut Department of Social Services - Hearing on CSBG & SSBG Allocation Plans - August 27, 2026 - Connecticut Social Services, Hartford

Connecticut's RHTP funds a comprehensive statewide transformation—including rural hospital stabilization, mobile health pilots, technology modernization, crisis stabilization units, and rural workforce expansion. Programs target care delivery, technology upgrades, integration of behavioral/physical health, value-based payments, and direct support to rural providers, EMS, and critical access hospitals. The program emphasizes cross-agency collaboration and robust oversight with substantial investment in direct provider, IT, and workforce capacity.