# THRIVE - Telehealth, Health Monitoring, and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (LIFELINE)

The THRIVE initiative, a core part of Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), funds projects to modernize rural healthcare delivery through telehealth access, EMS modernization, and remote patient monitoring. The LIFELINE sub-initiative specifically supports EMS tele-triage platforms, trauma and stroke response coordination, interoperable EMS communications, ambulance equipment with integrated technology, and tele-consultation networks. Funded projects must clearly align with at least one THRIVE program objective: expanding high-quality telehealth, reducing EMS and trauma response times, improving chronic disease or behavioral health outcomes, strengthening health IT security/interoperability, and supporting data-driven care. Eligible applicants include rural hospitals, EMS providers, clinics, behavioral health providers, clinically integrated networks (CINs), and nonprofit or public entities serving rural Arkansas. Schools and public health entities are not eligible for LIFELINE but may qualify under other THRIVE sub-initiatives. Projects must demonstrate a credible implementation plan, organization readiness, measurable outcomes, and compliance with CMS RHTP requirements (NOFO Sections II–IV).

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: NOFO
- Issued by: Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DF&A) (Arkansas)
- Posted: 2026-05-11
- Application due: 2026-06-12
- Funding: $1.2M – $55.6M
- Eligible applicants: Rural Hospital, Clinic, EMS Provider, Behavioral Health Provider, Non-profit, Public Entity, Clinically Integrated Network
- How to apply: Applications are to be submitted electronically via the THRIVE Application Portal at https://arkansasrhtp.com/thrive. Detailed submission instructions are provided in the NOFO and on the program's Resources page.
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://arkansasrhtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NOFO_THRIVE_Clean.pdf

## Eligibility

Eligible applicants include rural hospitals, EMS providers, clinics, behavioral health providers, clinically integrated networks, and nonprofit or public entities serving rural Arkansas. Schools and public health entities are not eligible for the LIFELINE sub-initiative. For full definitions and eligibility for other THRIVE initiatives, see NOFO Section III.

## Requirements

Applicants must propose projects matching at least one THRIVE objective, with a clear and credible implementation plan, demonstrated organizational readiness, measurable expected outcomes, and—where applicable—evidence of collaboration. For the LIFELINE sub-initiative, projects must support EMS tele-triage networks, trauma and stroke response modernization, or technology-enabled EMS services. All projects must comply with CMS RHTP requirements (NOFO Section IV).

## Required attachments

- Project Narrative
- Budget
- Budget Justification

## Application package and source documents

- [AR - 2026 - Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Telehealth, Health Monitoring, and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (THRIVE) (Guidance)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/19d5466c-898a-461d-8435-9ccd51bbed6d/file) (primary) — official: https://arkansasrhtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NOFO_THRIVE_Clean.pdf
- [AR - 2026 - THRIVE Application Step-by-step Applicant Guide](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/afb58b5a-a9ef-43b4-9aa3-6d97b79b15b7/file) — official: https://arkansasrhtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/THRIVE-Application-Guide-FINAL-ADA.pdf
- [AR - 2026 - Project Year 1 Budget Narrative for Arkansas RHTP (CMS-RHT-26-001)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/8f26f4ae-077a-461e-9004-854c17638b4d/file) — official: https://arkansasrhtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Year-1_AR-Revised-Budget-Narrative_ADAFINAL-2.pdf
- [AR - 2026 - Arkansas RHTP Strategic Plan](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/3736e98e-e526-4033-b501-1538bf61fc8b/file) — official: https://arkansasrhtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AR-Revised-Project-Narrative.pdf
- [AR - 2026 - Project Plan Template.xlsx (Budget Template)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/59b78b01-b091-460a-83f9-81d5671a2662/file) — official: https://apply.arkansasrhtp.com/program-info/b644a4c0-b111-f111-8406-00224802b9c0

More Arkansas RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ar (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ar.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/thrive-telehealth-health-monitoring-and-response-innovation-for-vital-expansion--29f50e4f98 — data as of 2026-08-11.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.