Kansas Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

Kansas Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is sponsored by Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). This program aims to strengthen rural health systems, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes for Kansans across the state.

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Division of Public Health Primary Care & Rural Health Programs Rural Health Transformation Program Rural Health Transformation Program The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) serves to improve the health of rural Kansans by expanding primary and secondary prevention programs, securing local access to primary care, building a sustainable rural health workforce, enabling value-base care and harnessing data and technology.

This office works closely with the Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance in supporting rural health systems and the communities they serve to improve access and outcomes in health care. Revenue Technical Support Organization (RTSO) HEALTHWORKS, KHA Foundation Inc. (Healthworks) an established 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is seeking proposals for the RTSO.

The RTSO is intended to improve the financial sustainability of Kansas rural hospitals by providing centralized revenue cycle expertise, payer analytics, claims recovery services, legal and reimbursement support, and CFO mentoring designed to reduce claim denials, accelerate payment resolution, strengthen rural hospital leadership capacity, and improve payer accountability.

Providing centralized expertise related to medical coding, billing, reimbursement methodologies, revenue cycle operations, managed care contracting, compliance and payment integrity. Developing standardized guidance, educational materials, templates and best practices to support compliant reimbursement optimization. Providing education and technical assistance related to emerging revenue cycle challenges and reimbursement opportunities.

Regulatory monitoring, payer policy analysis and operational improvement Analyzing denied, delayed and underpaid claims to identify recovery opportunities. Assisting hospitals with appeals, reconsiderations, payer disputes, audit responses and reimbursement recovery efforts. Working with physician advisors, utilization management, case management, health information management and revenue cycle teams to identify barriers to payment.

Kansas All Payers Scorecard Program RFP - due July 31 CFO Mentoring and Financial Leadership Support Program - due July 29 Revenue Support Program RFP - due July 30 Centralized Credentialing Verification Pilot Project Request for Proposals HEALTHWORKS, KHA Foundation Inc. (Healthworks) an established 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is seeking proposals to develop a statewide Centralized Credentialing Verification Pilot Program (CCV) operating under a hosted model.

The CCV will centralize credentialing intake and verification of healthcare providers while preserving payer credentialing authority and hospital privileging decisions.

The CCV Pilot Project is intended to improve access to care, reduce administrative burden, accelerate provider onboarding, and create a sustainable statewide framework for centralized credentialing and primary source verification services for healthcare practitioners practicing in Kansas. Establish the governance, operational framework, and stakeholder engagement necessary to support a statewide centralized credentialing model.

Conduct a Request for Proposal and identify and procure a Primary Source Verification (PSV) vendor and supporting technology infrastructure. Design and implement standardized credentialing workflows and policies. Reduce credentialing timeframes and administrative duplication.

Improve provider onboarding and access to care, particularly in rural Kansas. Develop a scalable and sustainable statewide credentialing infrastructure. Request for Proposal due Aug.

4 For more information on this project, visit the HEALTHWORKS website or contact Shannan Flach at [email protected] . Interfacility Transport Project Request for Application s Through the Interfacility Transport project (IFTp), the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) seeks transformative ideas to decrease transport delays and improve patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, and provider satisfaction.

Funds must be used for the development, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of IFTp program activities in accordance with Kansas RHTP and project requirements. Funding cannot be used to replace currently reimbursable services but may be used to supplement existing services or to create new approaches. Any Kansas-based organization that provides services in a rural area may apply for funding.

The application closes July 31, 2026, and KDHE anticipates announcing awardees Aug. 28, 2026.

Interfacility Transport Project Application Portal Interfacility Transport Project RFA (PDF) Interfacility Transport Project RFA Questions (PDF) Inter Facility Transport Project Webinar Registration General Questions: RHTP Questions KDHE Awards Over $1M in Rural Health Transformation Program Grants to Increase Access to Health and Social Services and Clinical Nutrition The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today announced at an event hosted by Newman Regional Health in Emporia the recipients of the Community Health Worker + Accountable Food is Medicine Grant Program (CHW+AFIM), an initiative within the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).

In total, $1,007,152 was awarded to seven rural healthcare organizations across the state to implement or expand CHW and AFIM programs, increasing community access to health and social services and clinical nutrition.

Click here to view CHW + AFIM Award Winners and Project Descriptions KDHE Announces RHTP Emerging Technology Grant Opportunity The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces a request for applications (RFA) for an Emerging Technology grant opportunity under the Kansas Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The application period for the $9.

5 million Emerging Technology grant will open Wednesday, June 10, 2026, to eligible Kansas providers proposing implementation or scaling of technologies with demonstrated ability to improve care delivery.

Providers eligible for the Emerging Technology grant funds are defined as Kansas hospitals, physician practices and solo practitioners, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, local health departments, Native American Sovereign Tribe healthcare facilities, certified community behavioral health clinics, licensed substance use disorder facilities, and licensed long-term care facilities.

Grant applications are due July 10, 2026. Click here to read the Emerging Technology RFA Press Release Click here to register for the Emerging Technology RFA webinar on June 22 at 1 p. m.

KDHE Awards Nearly $80M to Strengthen Rural Health Care Across Kansas Through the Kansas RHTP The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today announced the recipients of the Regional Partnerships Grant Program (RPGP) and Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion/Transformative Capital Investment Program (REH/CAP) grants through the Kansas Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). In total, $79.

1 million is being awarded to 39 organizations across the state, representing a major investment in strengthening access to care across rural Kansas. View the award winners and project descriptions here: REH CAP and RPGP Award Winners (PDF) Kansas Rural Health Transformation Plan Year 1 Budget Approved The initial 10-month Budget Period 1 (Dec. 31, 2025, to Oct.

30, 2026) for the Kansas Rural Health Transformation Program has been approved. The narrative provides a detailed report of expenditures and actions from the RHTP and partner organizations to fulfill its mission of improving the health of rural Kansans. The first budget revision has also been approved.

Read Budget Revision 1 here. Governor Laura Kelly today announced that Kansas has been awarded $221 million from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to support the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program. This funding will strengthen rural health systems, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes for Kansans across the state.

This funding award exceeds the base amount states allocated and reflects the quality of Kansas’ application. RHTP Application Submitted For nearly 900,000 Kansans, home is a rural community. Health care is the heart of these communities; those without local access to primary care services experience declining populations and shrinking economic opportunities for those who remain.

The fight to maintain services, therefore, is literally a battle to preserve these communities. With significant stakeholder engagement, the State has developed an ambitious Rural Health Transformation Plan and applied with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for funding to help realize this plan. Read the full application here .

H. R. 1 Section 71401 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted into law on July 4, 2025, establishes the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and created a national $50 billion fund, to support this initiative.

All 50 states are eligible to apply for this funding. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will establish an application process and due date. Additionally, CMS must approve or deny applications no later than December 31, 2025.

Applications are required to be submitted in early November 2025.

Interfacility Transportation Project RFA Webinar Interfacility Transport Project FAQs (PDF) Emerging Technology Committee Meeting 2 Emerging Technology Webinar Emerging Technology FAQ (PDF) KHRIA Kansas RHTP Meeting Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) Emerging Technology Committee Meeting EBP Program Introductory Webinar Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) Clinic KS EBP Program Participation Agreement (PDF) Hospital KS EBP Program Participation Agreement (PDF) RPGP and REH/CAP Grant Webinar RHT virtual meeting hosted by KRHIA RHT virtual meeting hosted by KRHIA RHT meeting hosted by KRHIA RHT virtual meeting hosted by KRHIA RHT virtual meeting hosted by KRHIA RHT virtual meeting hosted by KDHE RHT virtual meeting hosted by KRHIA RHT Program Applicants Webinars hosted by CMS Year One Timeline and Reporting Requirements Dec.

29, 2025 - Notice of Award Jan. 30, 2026 - Revised Budget due to CMS Q1 2026 - Funds available to State for authorized expenditures July 31, 2026 - End of first reporting period Aug. 30, 2026 - Annual Report + funding request for 2nd budget period due Oct.

30, 2026 - First Budget period ends By Oct. 31, 2026 - Second Budget Period Funding Announced By Sept.

30, 2027 - All 1st period funds must be expended Five Kansas RHTP Initiatives Improving rural Kansas’ health outcomes and transforming the delivery system by implementing and sustaining initiatives that promote preventative health care and address root causes of diseases, Enhancing rural health care providers’ efficiency and sustainability, Attracting and retaining a highly-skilled health care workforce, Sparking growth of innovative care models in rural communities that improve quality of care while reducing costs, and, Fostering the use of innovative technologies to increase access to care for rural Kansans This website is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $221,898,007.

82 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.