Wisconsin Rural Health Transformation Program

On Dec. 29, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it had awarded Wisconsin $203.7 million for the first year of the federal Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.

Authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the RHT Program is a competitive five-year $50 billion federal funding opportunity available to all states to strengthen and support rural health care. CMS will award funds to approved states over five years, with $10 billion distributed each year from 2026 through 2031.

In early November 2025, the state’s Department of Health Services (DHS) applied for $1 billion in RHT Program funds to support rural health transformation initiatives in Wisconsin for the next five years.

In its application, DHS proposed investing $945 million in three broad initiatives to strengthen the rural health care workforce, drive rural technology and innovation and transform rural care through partnerships. DHS’ application set aside the remaining $55 million for administration and evaluation. An overview of Wisconsin’s RHT Program budget approved by the federal government is here.

WI Rural Health Transformation Program Graphic

Wisconsin Hospital Association Updates

Watch the Hospital Member Briefing: Wisconsin’s Application for Rural Health Transformation Funding Webinar in the On-demand Learning Center for the latest updates about the application.

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Grant Funding Opportunities