Minnesota

This practical guide aims to assist rural health programs, practitioners, and partners in understanding and advancing innovation within rural health systems. It provides strategies, tools, and examples for designing, implementing, and scaling innovative approaches tailored to rural realities. Focus areas include community-centered design, workforce development, appropriate technology adoption, care models, partnerships, evaluation, financing, and leadership. Key contacts: Britta Anderson; Alycia Bayne; Alana Knudson; Luciana Rocha

Minnesota has been awarded over $193 million for the first year of the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program, recognizing its plan to strengthen rural health. Funding targets technological innovation, workforce expansion, and improving outcomes for chronic diseases. The strategic plan was developed through broad stakeholder input and supports sustainable rural health delivery. Key contacts: Andrea Ahneman andrea.ahneman@state.mn.us Event schedule: - MDH application submitted - 11/04/2025 - News Release Date - 12/30/2025 - Implementation begins - Early 2026

This document defines mandatory CMS/HHS compliance standards, financial management rules, civil rights requirements, reporting protocols, and award conditions for entities receiving RHTP funds from the State of Minnesota. It emphasizes transparency, anti-discrimination, proper fund management, conflict of interest disclosures, and federal audit responsibilities. It outlines HIPAA and interoperability expectations for subrecipients and provides explicit triggers and remedies for noncompliance. Key contacts: Compliance.MDHR@state.mn.us

This solicitation aims to engage a vendor with experience in rural health, health services research, and hospital finance to develop recommendations for sustainable rural maternal care delivery models. The process will include stakeholder engagement, technical assistance, financial analysis, and scenario modeling to inform future pilot funding with RHTP dollars. Community and provider perspectives are prioritized, and the engagement strategy expects evidence-based frameworks and quarterly reporting. Key contacts: Emma Distel rural.transformation.MDH@state.mn.us Event schedule: - Application Deadline - 09/11/2026 - 12:00 PM CT - SWIFT Supplier Portal - Q&A Deadline - 08/31/2026 - 12:00 PM CT - Email to rural.transformation.MDH@state.mn.us - Anticipated Contract Start - September 2026 - CT - Anticipated Award Selection - 09/30/2026 - CT

Minnesota is soliciting public input to inform the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program, seeking ideas to sustainably improve rural health care delivery. Focus areas include emergency, primary, chronic, mental, and maternal health, as well as workforce and technology solutions. The document provides structured prompts for input on evidence-based interventions, innovative care models, workforce development, and technology use.

Minnesota seeks $1 billion over five years (2026-2030) from RHTP. The plan focuses on rural health workforce, new access points via telehealth and regional models, supporting financial sustainability, and expanding services. The application was shaped by over 40 stakeholder meetings and nearly 350 public comments.

The Rural Health Transformation Program (CFDA 93.798) is allocated $10 billion in federal discretionary funding for FY 2026. This is one of the largest competitive health grants in the HHS portfolio, focusing on rural hospital and Medicaid transformation.

The program is funded with over $193 million allocated for the period from December 29, 2025, to October 30, 2030. Minnesota's Department of Health serves as the administering agency overseeing the implementation of the program, which aims to transform rural health delivery systems and infrastructure.

This document provides general information about the Minnesota Office of Rural Health and Primary Care and notes the 2025 Minnesota Rural Health Award winners announced on November 20, 2025. It references National Rural Health Day annually in November but contains no specific RHTP award or funding details.

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is soliciting vendor proposals for the Rural Health Transformation Program focused on rural maternity care system analysis and recommendations. The project is fully federally funded, with a maximum available budget of $3 million for the first period. Deliverables include iterative preliminary and final recommendations, advisory group engagement, and pilot site selection and support. Technical assistance and provider engagement are key features, and the RUCA methodology will be used to define rural areas. Event schedule: - Estimated Date of Award - 09/30/2026 - CT - Written Progress Reports - December 2026, March 2027, June 2027, September 2027 - CT

This document confirms subscription to the Rural Health Transformation Program updates from the Minnesota Department of Health. No funding or award details are included.