# CalRHT EHR Modernization Grant Program (Initiative 3: Technology and Tools)

CalRHT Initiative 3: Technology and Tools — EHR Modernization Grant Program provides subawards up to $2,000,000 for first-time adoption/configuration of a certified EHR, or full replacement of an existing EHR with a certified EHR (incremental upgrades are not eligible). Eligible applicants: rural hospitals (including Critical Access Hospitals and acute psychiatric), FQHCs/FQHC Look-Alikes (including Tribal), Rural Health Clinics, and Tribal/IHS clinics physically located in a rural area. Funded through California's CMS/HHS Rural Health Transformation Program award ($233,639,308.46 total state award). Applications open July 20, 2026; close August 21, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: RFA
- Issued by: California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) (California)
- Posted: 2026-07-20
- Application due: 2026-08-21
- Eligible applicants: Rural Hospital, Critical Access Hospital, Acute Psychiatric Facility, Federally Qualified Health Center, FQHC Look-Alike, Rural Health Clinic, Tribal Health Clinic, Indian Health Service Clinic
- How to apply: Online portal submission via https://calruralhealth.org
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://hcai.ca.gov/document/calrht-ehr-modernization-request-for-application-rfa/

## Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be one of the following service site types physically located in a rural area: Rural Hospital, Critical Access Hospital, Acute Psychiatric Facility, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), FQHC Look-Alike (including Tribal), Rural Health Clinic, Tribal Health Clinic, or Indian Health Service (IHS) Clinic. Sites must comply with HCAI’s rural designation criteria as defined in the Grant Guide. Only first-time certified EHR adoption or full replacement of an existing EHR with a certified EHR are eligible. Incremental EHR upgrades are not eligible.

## Requirements

Applicants must: (1) Complete all application sections via the HCAI application portal at calruralhealth.org, (2) Upload all required and conditional attachments, (3) Submit by August 21, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Required sections include: applicant profile, project narrative and baseline capability gap, solution and implementation plans, regional integration and cybersecurity, funding request, budget and sustainability, organizational capacity attestations, and completion of a workplan using the EHR Workplan Template. The project must not include unallowable costs (e.g., non-full-scale EHR upgrades, construction, indirect costs, lobbying, duplicate/covered costs). Awards are subject to review, scoring, and post-award milestones per program guidelines. Subrecipient requirement (confirmed 2026-08-24 via https://hcai.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/EHR-Technology-Readiness-1.pdf, finalized 2026-08-18 v1.0): "Subrecipients of the California Rural Health Transformation (CalRHT) Electronic Health Records (EHR) Modernization Grant are required to complete this assessment. Potential applicants may also complete this assessment if desired."

## Required attachments

- Completed EHR Budget Template
- EHR Workplan Template
- Organizational identifiers (e.g., UEI, TIN/EIN, NPI)
- Vendor documentation (if available)
- Public-Body Authorization (if applicable)
- Single Audit History Disclosure (if applicable)
- Documentation of Tribal affiliation (if applicable)

## Application package and source documents

- [CA - 2026 - CalRHT EHR Modernization RFA Federal Fiscal Year 2026-27 (Request for Applications (RFA))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/21766065-3c21-472a-8e23-424a94a739e8/file) (primary) — official: https://hcai.ca.gov/document/calrht-ehr-modernization-request-for-application-rfa
- [CA - 2026 - Rural Health Policy Council Meeting #2 October 27, 2026 (CalRHT Budget Period 1 policy council presentation — EHR Modernization)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/bb4119bb-9d74-46f2-968c-617666f52dce/file) — official: https://hcai.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Rural-Health-Policy-Council-Meeting-2-Presentation.pdf
- [CA - 2026 - Recommended Subrecipients for CalRHT Budget Period 1 Announced (Award source)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/bf144df0-389c-4e3e-b5f2-33651498ae31/file) — official: https://hcai.ca.gov/rural-health/calrht/calrht-program-updates

More California RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ca (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ca.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/calrht-ehr-modernization-grant-program-initiative-3-technology-and-tools--74c4eb9cf5 — data as of 2026-07-21.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.