Rural Health Transformation Program

Harnessing innovation and strengthening partnerships to build a healthier future for rural Wisconsin

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 $203,670,005.21 to invest in rural capacity, sustainability, and innovation across three major initiatives.

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.

Updates

• Watch the recorded webinar about the state's implementation plan
• View the presentation slides from the webinar
• Read the latest email update 

Sign up to receive program updates by email

Materials

Read details about these initiatives and how DHS plans to implement them in the application narrative below.

• Complete application materials (PDF)*
• Application summary (PDF)
• Application narrative (PDF)
• Governor Evers letter of support (PDF)

*Dollar amounts assigned to specific budgetary costs used for staff, grant, and contractor management planning have been redacted.

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.

Advisory council

The advisory council provides strategic guidance and input to DHS as a part of the state’s implementation. The council offers an opportunity to contribute to shaping how rural health priorities are addressed, bringing diverse provider, community, and lived experience perspectives to the table. Visit the council's webpage to learn more.

Preparing for implementation

The DHS 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.

Information about upcoming recruitment opportunities will be posted on the DHS careers webpage as positions become available.

Federal funding statement

This program is supported by CMS of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $203,670,005.21 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.