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) received a first-year award from CMS for $203,670,005 to invest in rural capacity, sustainability, and innovation across three major initiatives:
- Strengthen the rural health care workforce
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
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
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 is in the process of recruiting a team to manage this project. Information about recruitment opportunities will be posted on the DHS careers webpage.
Timeline
DHS will receive federal funding for five years to implement the initiatives of the program. CMS has not yet announced award amounts for the subsequent four years of the program.
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 the DHS careers webpage as positions become available.
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