Program Overview
The Louisiana Rural Health Transformation Program, administered by the Louisiana Department of Health, is in its first budget year and advancing a structured plan with strategic investments in workforce development, value-based care, telehealth, infrastructure, EMS, interoperability, and rural health innovation. Multiple competitive NOFOs and program applications are open or in process through August 2026, targeting collaborative provider models, Medicaid alternative payment models, care conveners, capital improvements, and food-as-medicine initiatives. Governance structures and stakeholder engagement have ramped up through partnerships with providers, technology partners, educational institutions, and state agencies. Current structured plan tracks 10 key initiatives and 10 strategic goals.
Updated
County-level estimates averaged across Louisiana — % of adults 18+ unless noted. Delta vs US county average shown in red/green.
pp = percentage points vs US county average
County Drilldown (64)
| County | Pop | Poverty | Uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 452,938 | 19.6% | 13.7% |
| Jefferson Parish | 430,920 | 16.6% | 12.9% |
| Orleans Parish | 371,853 | 22.6% | 16.6% |
| St. Tammany Parish | 272,421 | 11.4% | 8.8% |
| Lafayette Parish | 247,997 | 17.1% | 12.6% |
| Caddo Parish | 230,004 | 22.4% | 17.6% |
| Calcasieu Parish | 207,088 | 17.4% | 12.6% |
| Ouachita Parish | 158,480 | 23.2% | 18.4% |
| Livingston Parish | 148,115 | 12.9% | 10.2% |
| Tangipahoa Parish | 136,738 | 19.2% | 14.0% |
| Ascension Parish | 130,314 | 10.3% | 8.0% |
| Bossier Parish | 129,789 | 15.9% | 10.3% |
AI source: LA - 2026 - RHTP Advisory Council – August 20, 2026
AI auto-updated Aug 26, 2026
API refreshed May 7, 2026
Key signals are summarized here. Open the source for the supporting detail.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Grouped files
2 related documents
LA - 2027 - Louisiana Department of Health - RHTP Overview
Auto-grouped context match (37%)
739,197 rural residents
Louisiana's RHTP is actively implementing its first year, with multiple NOFOs for workforce, care delivery, and infrastructure open or recently closed. Application deadlines for collaborative provider models, alternative payment models, care conveners, and food/nutrition initiatives continue through mid-August 2026, with intent to contract announcements planned for mid to late August. Eight competitive sub-grant opportunities have been opened, applications are under review, and Budget Year 1 awards are in process. Stakeholder engagement, required CMS reporting, and CMS site visits are ongoing, with state procurement covering workforce, telehealth, and care access priorities. State opportunities: 1 active (1 open, 7 past/closed), $2.6M listed funding. Key opportunities: Louisiana Rural Tech Catalyst Fund (RTCF) Launch; Rural Health Facilities Capital Improvement Program; Telehealth Infrastructure for Rural Access Program. Strategy alignment: supports workforce, telehealth, care access priorities.
Louisiana’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), led by the Department of Health, advances rural health transformation through coordinated, data-driven investments that target workforce expansion and sustainability, innovative care models, Medicaid value-based payment, telehealth and broadband, facility improvements, care conveners, and nutrition-community partnerships. The program utilizes both competitive and direct funding, requires annual and quarterly CMS reporting, and prioritizes stakeholder engagement—including an Advisory Council—for transparency and alignment with state rural health priorities.
Model
A centrally coordinated, multi-initiative framework led by LDH and the Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability, featuring collaborative provider consortia, Medicaid alternative payment models, targeted workforce pipelines (including 'grow-your-own'), telehealth and broadband expansion, EMS innovation (such as tele-EMS), capital improvement grants, phased health IT and EHR integration, food-as-medicine initiatives, regional care conveners and navigation networks, and an integrated data-driven analytics and reporting infrastructure. Implementation relies on competitive and direct funding, provider match requirements, strong stakeholder engagement, and performance-based accountability—with all outcomes reported to CMS.
Key Initiatives (10)
Timeline: Program operates January 2026–September 2031 with staged funding and annual application/reporting cycles. Year 1 application deadlines run June–August 2026 per NOFO, with review and award processes in each subsequent funding year.
Focus on recruiting and retaining rural healthcare clinicians to strengthen local health systems.
Supporting collaborative provider models to expand specialist access and optimize limited staff resources.
Building infrastructure to support participation in value-based care among rural providers serving Medicaid members.
LA - 2026 - RHTP Advisory Council – August 20, 2026
RHTP Advisory Council Meeting Slides (Aug 20 2026)
Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability
Due Aug 14, 2026
2 related documents
LA - 2026 - Louisiana Landing Page (updated: August 31, 2026)
LDH RHTP program page - Important Dates
LA - 2026 - Regional Care Conveners and Navigation Networks Program Notice of Funding Opportunity
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability
Due Aug 14, 2026
2 related documents
LA - 2026 - Food is Medicine (FIM) Programs Notice of Funding Opportunity
Food is Medicine NOFO (full text)
Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability
Due Aug 7, 2026
4 related documents
LA - 2026 - Louisiana Landing Page (updated: August 31, 2026)
LDH RHTP program page - Important Dates
| FY↓ | Awardee↕ | Amount↕ | Activity↕ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Capital Improvement Program Funds capital improvements for rural health facilities to enhance infrastructure and expand access. | $41.6M | Flex Fund | |
| 2026 | Alternative Payment Model Implements alternative payment models for rural providers to incentivize value and quality of care. | $30.0M | Flex Fund | |
| 2026 | Rural Clinician Credit Bank Provides credits and incentives to rural clinicians to support workforce retention and recruitment. | $10.0M | Workforce | |
| 2026 | Telehealth Supports telehealth expansion among rural providers to improve service availability and patient access. | $4.7M | Health IT | |
| 2026 | Care conveners / navigation network Establishes care navigation supports for rural patients, improving access and coordination. | $3.5M | Quality Improvement | |
| 2026 | Collaborative Provider Model Promotes collaborative models for rural health providers, including care teams and partnerships. | $3.0M | Network Development | |
| 2026 | Food is Medicine Food-as-medicine initiative addresses nutrition and chronic disease prevention among rural populations. | $2.7M | Population Health |
Louisiana is preparing an application for the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which allocates approximately $200 million per year over five years to the state for rural health infrastructure, workforce, and access. The strategy focuses on high-morbidity, provider shortage areas and emphasizes innovative care models, strategic partnerships, and improving health outcomes. Rural health priorities include heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and tobacco use, all at higher rates than urban areas.
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
This RFI seeks information to inform Louisiana's statewide EHR implementation for rural providers under LA RHTP, focusing on integration, provider onboarding, and implementation staffing. No funding is announced. The final strategy will guide future EHR partner procurements. Key contacts: ruralhealthtransformation@la.gov Event schedule: - Public Notice of RFI - 07/13/2026 - CT - Deadline for Receipt of RFI Responses - 07/17/2026 - 11:59PM CT - Optional Vendor Presentations - July 20-29, 2026 - TBD CT
Event Schedule
Contacts
Core Initiatives
Event schedule: - requirements. LDH reserves the right to approve, partially fund, defer, or deny any application based on available resources and program considerations. 8 Version 1.0, Published , 2026 - July 2
Louisiana received one of the nation’s largest RHTP federal awards, with $208M in Budget Year 1 and an anticipated $1.4 billion over five years. Sub-grant funding opportunities are open or in process for workforce, telehealth, capital improvements, care conveners, and food-as-medicine models. Governance structures and stakeholder engagement have ramped up, including creation of a new office, funding authority, monthly webinars, and robust collaboration with CMS. Key contacts: Ruralhealthtransformation@la.gov Event schedule: - Next monthly webinar - 09/03/2026 - 9:00 AM CT - Online - Next Advisory Council meeting - 11/05/2026 - 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM CT - House Committee Room 3, Louisiana State Capitol - Budget Year 1 Annual Report due - 08/31/2026 - Quarterly Report due - 11/29/2026
Event Schedule
Contacts
Core Initiatives
The Louisiana Rural Health Atlas provides a parish-by-parish public data view of rural health need, facility access, and program impact. FY2026 CMS/HHS funding of $208.4M supports Louisiana's transformation strategies in workforce, tech innovation, sustainable access, preventive care, and innovative care models. Priority regions include several Mississippi Delta and Central parishes, with identified projects in clinician recruitment, telehealth, and chronic disease prevention.
Core Initiatives
Louisiana received a $208.4M federal award for Year 1 and a total grant funding of $1.4B. The program serves 1.1 million rural residents statewide with 9 competitive NOFOs planned in Year 1. Key targets include increasing primary care received in the parish of residence by 3 percentage points and reducing rural EMS response times by 10% over five years.
This document consolidates applicant questions for the Care Convener Program, supporting Louisiana's Rural Health Transformation Program. Applicants may serve multiple rural regions, and funding supports workforce, network development, data integration, outreach, and rural clinic infrastructure—including behavioral health clinics. School navigators may be embedded via partnerships, and value-based payment participation may be planned for the future. Event schedule: - Care Convener Program Answers to Submitted Questions , 2026 Eligibility is based on the service area. From more information on rural eligibility and determination, review the RHTP Rural Eligibility Definition and Meth...
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
The program includes multiple funding opportunities targeting recruitment and retention of rural clinicians, collaborative provider models, Medicaid alternative payment models, and infrastructure upgrades. The timeline for applications spans mid-2026 with several deadlines between June and August. The state focuses on integrating rural care by developing navigation networks and offering food is medicine programs. Event schedule: - Deadline to Submit Written Questions: Extended through Monday, , 2026 - July 6 - Learn More About This Funding Opportunity - Application Submission Deadline for Year 1 Funds: Wednesday, , 2026 - August 5 - Learn More About This Funding Opportunity - Deadline to Submit Written Questions: Tuesday, , 2026 - July 7 - Learn More About This Funding Opportunity - Application Submission Deadline for Year 1 Funds: Friday, , 2026 - August 7 - Learn More About This Funding Opportunity - Deadline to Submit Written Questions: , 2026 - July 9 - Learn More About This Funding Opportunity - Application Submission Deadline for Year 1 Funds: , 2026 - August 14 - Learn More About This Funding Opportunity - Deadline to Submit Written Questions: Extended through Friday, , 2026 - June 12 - Learn More About This Funding Opportunity - Application Submission Deadline for Year 1 Funds: , 2026 - July 10 - Learn More About This Funding Opportunity
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
Announcement of a Rural Health Transformation Summit in Louisiana to foster innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in rural health. The event includes networking sessions and presentations on funding and strategies to improve rural health outcomes. Event schedule: - Rural Health Transformation Summit - 06/11/2026 - Natchitoches Events Center, 750 Second Street, Natchitoches, LA
LA RHTP site updated — 1 new, 1 existing source(s) refreshed
LA RHTP site updated — 2 new, 0 existing source(s) refreshed
LA RHTP site updated — 1 new doc(s)
LA RHTP site updated — 2 new doc(s)
LA RHTP site updated — 1 new doc(s)
Spreadsheets, data exports, and reference documents — available for download but excluded from the main activity feed. Showing the 40 most recent of 82.
LA - 2026 - Budget Workbook Care Convener
XLSX
LA - 2026 - Budget Workbook Capital Improvement
XLSX
LA - 2026 - Budget Workbook Telehealth Infrastructure
XLSX
LA - 2026 - RHTP Budget Workbook FoodisMedicine
Budget workbook
LA - 2026 - Rural Medicaid Alternative Payment Model Program Notice of Funding Opportunity
Full Announcement (Version 1.a, revised June 29, 2026)
LA - 2026 - Collaborative Provider Budget Workbook
Initiative 3 APM Applicant Budget Template
LA - 2026 - Collaborative Provider Budget Workbook
Prior budget workbook (superseded)
Event Schedule
This Q&A document provides comprehensive guidance for prospective applicants to the Louisiana Rural Clinician Credit Bank, under the Rural Health Transformation Program. It clarifies allowable and unallowable uses of funds, eligibility rules, service obligations, and detailed budget/match guidance for workforce incentives. The RCCB supports workforce retention and recruitment in rural hospitals and clinics, emphasizing compliance with federal and state requirements. Event schedule: - Application Deadline - 06/25/2026 - CT - Louisiana Department of Health application portal - Rural Clinician Credit Bank Answers to Submitted Questions - 2026-05-29
Core Initiatives
Core Initiatives
Louisiana will receive over $208 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program, one of the highest awards in the nation and top three in the Southeast. The program supports rural health transformation and Medicaid in Louisiana. Event schedule: - Starting , 2027, a new federal law requires some adults on Medicaid to report community engagement activities, commonly known as work requirements, to keep their Medicaid coverage. - January 1 - Immediate Emotional Support - , 2026 - MAY 06 - LDH urges residents to practice safe swimming and water safety - , 2026 - MAY 04 - Louisiana water system grades show continued improvement in 2025 - , 2026 - APRIL 22 - LDH confirms measles case in Region 1 - , 2026 - APRIL 20 - Governor Landry, LDH Secretary Greenstein encourage residents to seek emotional support after Shreveport shooting
This Q&A document clarifies eligible uses of funds, match requirements, and application rules for the Food as Medicine NOFO in Louisiana. It confirms rural and statewide nonprofit eligibility, 1.5% indirect costs, and allowable project staffing and equipment for clinical-community food initiatives. The guidance supports rural Medicaid-focused nutrition interventions using partnerships between providers and community organizations. Event schedule: - Application Due Date - 08/14/2026
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
The Louisiana Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is progressing through its first budget year with multiple NOFOs open or recently closed targeting care models, capital improvement, telehealth, workforce, and population health initiatives. Early wins include establishment of program governance, university-to-rural facility workforce partnerships, and efforts to support data analytics and innovative care platforms. Upcoming milestones include mandatory annual and quarterly reports, advisory council meetings, and continued applicant engagement through webinars and town halls. Key contacts: Jody Davis; Terrilyn Roberts; Jaime Cyprian; Kelly Graphia Event schedule: - Budget Year 1 Annual Report Due - 08/31/2026 - NCC Year 2 Continuation Request Due - 08/31/2026 - Quarterly Report Due - 11/29/2026 - RHTP Advisory Council Meeting - 08/20/2026 - 9:00-11:00 - Capitol, House Committee Room 3 - Monthly RHTP Webinar - 09/03/2026
Event Schedule
Contacts
Core Initiatives
Louisiana submits a robust Rural Health Transformation Program (LA RHTP) application to CMS to comprehensively transform rural health systems for Louisiana’s 1.1 million rural residents. The strategy centers on workforce expansion, digital modernization (including a statewide shared CMS-certified EHR), innovative payment reform, community collaboration, and targeted population health efforts for chronic disease, maternal health, behavioral, and cancer priorities. The plan details proposed investments of $485M over five years for workforce, technology, care delivery, and financial stabilization.
Event Schedule
Core Initiatives
LA - 2026 - Collaborative Provider Budget Workbook
XLSX
LA - 2026 - Labels
DOCX
LA - 2026 - RHTP Budget Workbook FoodisMedicine
XLSX
LA - 2026 - APM Applicant Budget Template
XLSX
LA - 2026 - Collaborative Provider Budget Workbook
XLSX
LA WIC Vendor Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda - March 11, 2021
2021-2023 Louisiana WIC Approved Foods List Changes
Temporary Increase in WIC Cash-Value Benefit for Fruit and Vegetable Purchase Amounts
LA - 2026 - Provider Flyer
LA - 2026 - Vendor Registration Instructions
LA - 2026 - Employer Flyer
LA - 2026 - Member Flyer
LA - 2026 - Addition of Fresh Herbs to Approved Product List (APL) Memo
LA - 2026 - Expansion of Eligible WIC Cereal Package Sizes Memo
LA - 2026 - Offline to Online EBT Transition Updates Memo
LA - 2026 - APL Additions Effective October 1 Memo
LA - 2026 - Program Monitors by Region and Parish Map
LA - 2026 - Authorized Product List (APL)
2026 · XLSX
LA - 2026 - Adobe Version
2026 · PDF
LA - 2026 - Excel Version
2026 · XLSX
LA - 2026 - Vendor
2026 · PDF
LA - 2026 - Vendor Agreement
2026 · PDF
LA - 2026 - Medicaid Work Requirements Communications Toolkit
2026 · PDF
LA - 2026 - Vendor Annual Training Presentation for FFY 2026
2026 · PDF
LA - 2026 - Vendor Application
2025 · PDF
LA - 2026 - Price Look Up (PLU) Code List
2025 · XLSX
LA - 2026 - Program Guide
2025 · PDF
Authorized WIC Vendor Policy Updates for Federal Fiscal Year 2024
2024 · PDF
LA - 2024 - Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) | Louisiana Department of Health
2024 · HTML
LA - 2023 - July 2023
2023 · PDF
FY22 Abbott Infant Formula Recall Guidance 2.22.22
2022 · PDF
LA WIC Annual Vendor Training 2022
2022 · PDF
LA WIC Vendor Infant Formula Substitutes due to Abbott Formula Recall – 3/8/2022 Updates
2022 · PDF
Authorized WIC Vendor Policy Updates for Federal Fiscal Year 2022
2022 · PDF
Louisiana Medicaid Eligibility Manual Charts Z–200: FEDERAL POVERTY INCOME GUIDELINES
2021-2026 · PDF
Changes to the LA WIC Vendor Guide – Effective February 1, 2021
2021 · PDF
LA - 2021 - March 2021
2021 · PDF