Rural Health Transformation Program
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a federal funding opportunity provided to states through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) applied for $1 billion in funding on November 3, to invest in rural capacity, sustainability, and innovation across three major initiatives:
Strengthen the rural health care workforce - $337 million
Recruiting and retaining an adequate health care workforce is a challenge in rural areas, making access to quality, timely care for rural residents difficult. This funding will provide grants for innovative workforce projects in rural communities, support career pathways for rural health care providers, and fund services provided by community health workers.
Drive rural technology and innovation - $329 million
Rural Wisconsin needs the technology to support and reach residents, such as closed-loop referral systems and telehealth capabilities. This funding will invest in upgrades to rural provider systems, digital infrastructure, and develop a digital rural health care collaborative.
Transform rural care through partnerships - $279 million
Rural Wisconsinites experience fragmented coordination across primary care, specialty care, behavioral health, chronic disease prevention, and community social supports. This funding will stand up a competitive grant program for rural regions to create coordinated systems of care where multi-sector partnerships show a clear path to sustainability.
DHS will partner with rural health care providers, local and Tribal governments, and other private and public partners to ensure local expertise drives this work.
Materials
Timeline
CMS will provide awardee decisions by December 31, 2025.
Preparing for implementation
DHS's Office of Grants Management (OGM) will lead the implementation and oversight of the Rural Health Transformation Program. This strategic initiative will strengthen DHS’s capacity to administer large-scale, federally funded programs designed to improve access to high-quality health care in rural communities across Wisconsin.
OGM plans to recruit a program director to lead a dedicated team responsible for coordinating grant administration, program reporting, fiscal accountability, and technical support for statewide partners. Additional staff positions will be recruited in the coming months to support program operations and ensure effective management of program resources.
This expansion marks a significant step in advancing DHS’s mission to promote equitable, efficient, and sustainable health systems throughout Wisconsin. Information about upcoming recruitment opportunities will be posted on DHS Careers as positions become available.
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