MDHHS Seeks Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program Applicants

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued two RFPs for organizations to participate in its Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program is a $ 50 billion Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative aimed at improving healthcare access and quality in rural areas.  It was included in the OBBBA with the legislative intent to strengthen rural hospitals:

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/newsroom/2026/07/17/rht-chronic-disease

MDHHS seeks applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program Chronic Disease Collaborative Care Fund
By Laina Stebbins - July 17, 2026

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a grant funding opportunity (GFO) for the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program that will support the Transforming Rural Health through Partnerships: Chronic Disease Collaborative Care Fund.

Michigan’s RHT Program focuses on building a strong and innovative rural health system that ensures every resident has access to high-quality care close to home. The program advances this goal through coordinated, community-driven strategies implemented across four core initiatives:

• Strengthening partnerships that support rural health transformation.
• Expanding and stabilizing the workforce needed to sustain community wellness.
• Advancing interoperability so providers can share information and coordinate care effectively.
• Developing models that bring essential services closer to where people live.

The Diabetes and Hypertension Management and Education will help communities develop and expand proven approaches to prevent and manage chronic diseases, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Through local partnerships, the program will support efforts that improve health outcomes for rural residents.

Eligible applicants include 501c3 nonprofits, for-profit organizations, private and public entities, local municipalities, local transit agencies, local health departments, health systems, health plans, community-based coalitions, community foundations, and/or other similar organizations.

The award period begins Oct. 1, 2026, and ends Sept. 30, 2027. Eight awards are anticipated for a total of approximately $2.5 million. Project director requests for access to the applications are due by 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6. Grant applications must be submitted electronically through the EGrAMS system by 3 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 11.

A pre-application conference will be held to provide instruction on using the EGrAMS system at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 21. It will last approximately 90 minutes and the webinar can be accessed at https://bit.ly/4aF2sWS. At the conclusion of the conference, a recording of the webinar will be posted on the EGrAMS system.

For more information or to apply, visit the EGrAMS website and select the "About EGrAMS" link in the left panel to access the "Competitive Application Instructions" training manual. The complete GFO and resource documents can be accessed under the ‘Current Grants’ section within the ‘Policy and Planning’ link and by selecting the DHME-2027 grant program.

This grant funding opportunity 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 $173,128,201.02, with 100% funding provided 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.