Rural Health Transformation Program (Wisconsin DHS - Care Coordination grant) is sponsored by Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) through Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This grant opportunity aims to support new and innovative partnership models that coordinate care across systems and sectors in rural Wisconsin to improve access to preventive services, primary and specialty care, dental services, and/or behavioral health services through team-b…

Rural Health Transformation Program | Wisconsin Department of Health Services 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. 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.

Watch the recorded webinar about the state's implementation plan View the presentation slides from the webinar Read the latest email update Care coordination - applications due August 21, 2026 These grants support new and innovative partnership models that coordinate care across systems and sectors in rural Wisconsin. These grants will address fragmented systems of care and barriers to access care.

DHS plans to award up to $10 million in 2026 for a 6-month planning period. Awardees will then be invited to submit a full application for a 4-year program period. The full grant opportunity will be released to planning grant recipients in February 2027, with an estimated $25 million available in the first year pending CMS approval.

Community health worker - applications due August 7, 2026 These grants support expanded integration and sustainability of community health workers as an evidence-based care model to improve health outcomes in Wisconsin's rural communities.

These grants will increase the quality and number of community health workers in the workforce in rural areas, enhance programs through training and technical assistance, and support strong infrastructure and connections between providers and communities. DHS plans to award $20 million for the first year of funding. Letters of intent are recommended but not required and are due July 1, 2026.

Rural dental efficiency and access - applications due July 27, 2026 These grants support dental clinics in adopting technologies that improve efficiency and increase access to care in rural and semi-rural communities. These technologies can help to address challenges that rural clinics face by increasing patient service volumes, improving patient comfort and maximizing existing dental workforce.

DHS plans to award $10 million through this grant opportunity pending CMS approval. Organizations may request technical assistance with their applications by emailing RHTP-evaluation@wisc. edu .

Technical assistance is being provided by the University of Wisconsin-Population Health Institute, Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, and Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality and can help with accessing community data and planning project evaluation. Those providing technical assistance have no input on funding decisions.

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.

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. 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.

Last revised June 15, 2026