# Pennsylvania Rural Health Transformation Plan Rapid Response Stabilization Payments

$25 million direct payment program from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to stabilize or enhance rural health care access. Supports hospitals and rural health facilities with one-time payments ranging from $10,000–$1 million per applicant. Aligned with six RHTP initiatives: Aging and Access, Behavioral Health, EMS and Transportation, Maternal Health, Technology and Infrastructure, and Workforce.

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: RFA
- Issued by: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) (Pennsylvania)
- Posted: 2026-05-01
- Questions due: 2026-04-29
- Letter of intent due: 2026-05-01
- Application due: 2026-06-01
- Funding: $10,000 – $1.0M
- Eligible applicants: Nonprofit Organization, Government Entity, Health Care Facility/Hospital
- How to apply: Submit the completed Payment Certification Form, budget narrative, and attachments via the official DHS RHTP Application Portal, as listed on the funding opportunities webpage.
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/programs-services/healthcare/rural-health/rhtp-funding-opportunities

## Eligibility

Eligible applicants include hospitals, health care providers (as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1397ee(h)(9)), and rural health facilities (as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1397ee(h)(3)(D)) that currently operate in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and have been in operation since at least December 29, 2025. Entities must be located in RHTP-eligible rural counties (class 4–8) or in a HRSA-defined rural census tract of a county of the second class A or third class. Entities must be in full operation in Pennsylvania on the funding receipt date and, if required, licensed or approved by the appropriate state authority.

## Requirements

Applicants must complete and submit the RHTP Payment Certification and provide all supporting documents as outlined in the application instructions. One application/payment per qualified entity. Entities must submit: completed payment certification, project narrative with description of intended use in one or more RHTP initiatives, budget worksheet and narrative, proof of status and location, and any other required financial or eligibility documentation.

## Required attachments

- Proof of nonprofit or governmental status
- Proof of rural health facility/service designation
- Summary of intended use of funds and targeted RHTP initiative(s)
- Financial documentation

## Application package and source documents

- [PA - 2026 - rhtp funding opportunities (Source listing page)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/04237cb0-72aa-4eaf-9704-3c98b8629f5c/file) — official: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/programs-services/healthcare/rural-health/rhtp-funding-opportunities
- [PA - 2026 - Pennsylvania RHTP Rapid Response Stabilization Program Request and Eligibility Certification (Payment Certification)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/94ee6bd9-c3fb-484b-b4e3-57dab2e3eafc/file) (primary) — official: https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/rural-health/rhtp-funding/rapid-response-stabilization-program-payment-certification.pdf
- [PA - 2026 - RHTP Payment Budget Narrative Template (Budget Narrative Template)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/4579662f-6f6f-4e42-b586-3d3cc72cb193/file) — official: https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/rural-health/rhtp-funding/rhtp-payment-budget-narrative-template.docx
- [PA - 2026 - RHTP Payment Budget Worksheet (Budget Worksheet)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/3bbd8972-4071-426f-bb42-7f59caa975bb/file) — official: https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/rural-health/rhtp-funding/rhtp-payment-budget-worksheet.xlsx
- [PA - 2026 - Rapid Response Stabilization: RHTP Payments Frequently Asked Questions (Updated: 4/29/2026) (FAQs)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/92731044-4931-4f69-a953-7cc2a0d9a150/file) — official: https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/rural-health/rhtp-funding/faq-rapid-response-stabilization-rhtp-payments.pdf
- [PA - 2026 - Availability of RHTP Payments; Rapid Response Stabilization (Public Notice (PA Bulletin))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/78ba3ad1-fe12-4ef1-b73b-6cc5d3308780/file) — official: https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol56/56-17/595.html
- [PA - 2025 - Eligible Projects – Pennsylvania RHT Plan Rapid Response Stabilization Payments (Pennsylvania RHTP eligible projects announcement)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/c4749001-87e9-4d05-ae07-4dce7fdd3309/file) — official: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/programs-services/healthcare/rural-health/rural-health-eligible-projects

More Pennsylvania RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/pa (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/pa.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/pennsylvania-rural-health-transformation-plan-rapid-response-stabilization-payme--1df2a7fa5a — data as of 2026-06-21.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.