New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Health Care Financing · Posted January 26, 2026
Application Due
February 17, 2026
The Rural Health Transformation Program 2026: Building Rural Hospital Capacity provides up to $1.46 million per eligible rural hospital—with the possibility of additional funds if available—for projects that modernize infrastructure, expand telehealth and remote patient monitoring, strengthen workforce skills, and implement innovative care models to serve uninsured and underinsured rural New Jersey residents. The total program funding pool is $19 million. Hospitals must propose activities serving target populations in federally, state, or Rural Ruggedness Scale (RRS)-designated rural areas, as specified in Appendices A, B, and C of the RFA. Awarded projects may include equipment and technology purchases, workforce training, care coordination enhancements, and upgrades to digital health and EMR systems (EMR and indirect/administrative costs each capped at 5%). Grantees must submit monthly expenditure and quarterly progress reports. Funds may not be used for services reimbursable by Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance. All funding is contingent on appropriations from Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21 (OBBBA); no cost-sharing or match is required. The first annual project and budget period is March 1, 2026 – October 30, 2026.
Eligibility is limited to Acute Care Hospitals (ACH) operating programs or proposing activities serving uninsured and underinsured individuals within designated rural counties or census tracts in New Jersey as defined by federal, state, or Rural Ruggedness Scale (RRS) criteria. Eligible counties are: Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem, Sussex, Warren, and ten RRS-identified census tracts in Bergen, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic counties. Only listed ACHs physically located in these areas, as specified in Appendices A, B, and C of the RFA, may apply. Funds may only be used for activities that primarily benefit uninsured and underinsured individuals.
Required attachments
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Application Prep
Application #: OHCF26RHC
Reference: OBBBA §71401
Program: Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) 2026: Building Rural Hospital Capacity
Match: None required
Performance: March 1, 2026 – October 30, 2026 (first annual project and budget period)
Key Dates:
Review Criteria:
Budget Range
Contact
Programmatic Contact
Christina Cartisano, Administrative Analyst, NJ Dept. of Health, Office of Health Care Financing, (609) 376-0965, Christina.Cartisano@doh.nj.gov
Fiscal Contact
Thomas Weakley, Contract Administrator, NJ Dept. of Health, Management and Administration, (609) 376-8493, Thomas.Weakley@doh.nj.gov
SAGE Grants Portal Assistance
njdoh.grants@doh.nj.gov
Application Period Opens
Jan 26, 2026
Questions Due
Feb 2, 2026
Responses to Questions
Feb 6, 2026
Application Deadline
Feb 17, 2026
Project Start
Mar 1, 2026
Project End
Oct 30, 2026