HHS Region 5 · Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
Program Overview
The Minnesota Rural Health Transformation Program, administered by the Department of Health's Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, is actively implementing structured initiatives to support rural and Tribal healthcare, with recent RFPs issued for hospitals, clinics, tribal nations, and clinicians. Current focus areas include workforce retention, clinical training and residency expansion, pediatric and adolescent mental health, provider collaboration, expanded telehealth and health IT access, targeted technical assistance—including a Rural Telehealth Services Center needs assessment—and thorough stakeholder engagement. The program continues to use evidence-based frameworks, tracking progress across multiple key strategic goals and initiatives through 2030. Current structured plan tracks 26 key initiatives and 15 strategic goals.
Updated
County-level estimates averaged across Minnesota — % of adults 18+ unless noted. Delta vs US county average shown in red/green.
pp = percentage points vs US county average
County Drilldown (87)
| County | Pop | Poverty | Uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | 1,269,496 | 10.0% | 5.4% |
| Ramsey County | 542,945 | 12.3% | 8.3% |
| Dakota County | 445,771 | 5.8% | 3.6% |
| Anoka County | 370,349 | 7.0% | 4.8% |
| Washington County | 276,238 | 5.1% | 3.5% |
| St. Louis County | 200,123 | 13.2% | 6.6% |
| Olmsted County | 164,498 | 7.5% | 4.7% |
| Stearns County | 160,865 | 12.9% | 7.6% |
| Scott County | 154,557 | 4.6% | 2.8% |
| Wright County | 148,269 | 5.2% | 3.9% |
| Carver County | 110,041 | 4.4% | 3.0% |
| Sherburne County | 100,560 | 5.1% | 3.1% |
AI source: MN - 2026 - RHTP Funding RHTP Evaluation
AI auto-updated Sep 26, 2026
API refreshed May 7, 2026
Key signals are summarized here. Open the source for the supporting detail.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Grouped files
5 related documents
MN - 2025 - RHT Plan - Public Comments
Auto-grouped context match (38%)
1,260,920 rural residents
Minnesota has made multiple Rural Health Transformation Program subawards focused on youth health career exposure, rural workforce pathways, MOUD stakeholder development, program evaluation, and health IT performance measurement. Active procurements and funded projects are underway across these areas, with rural EMS pilot projects and Project ECHO initiatives also initiated. Program implementation is extensive, supporting rural workforce, maternal and behavioral health, IT, and EMS innovation. Ongoing activities include further RFPs and expanding grant-funded initiatives. State opportunities: 2 active (2 open, 19 past/closed), $394.0M listed funding. Key opportunities: FY 2027 Rural Clinical Rotations Grant Program Request For Proposal; Rural Residency Training Grant Program; Minnesota RHTP Grants – Rural Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs). Strategy alignment: supports workforce, care access priorities.
Minnesota’s RHTP maintains a regionally focused, partnership-driven approach to strengthening rural health workforce, financial sustainability, and access. Expansion of rural clinical rotations and rural residency training, implementation of stationary telehealth access points, and comprehensive rural telehealth needs assessment continue to be core priorities, supported by competitive grant programs and broad stakeholder engagement. Technical assistance, health IT investments, health equity initiatives, and compliance with federal requirements reinforce the state’s ongoing transformation efforts.
Model
Regional, partnership-driven transformation emphasizing rural workforce expansion through clinical rotations, rural residency training programs, innovations in access via stationary telehealth access points and rural telehealth services center feasibility studies, collaborative financial models, enhanced health IT infrastructure, robust technical assistance, evaluation frameworks, performance measurement, and pilot care models shaped by needs assessments and stakeholder engagement.
Key Initiatives (26)
Timeline: 12/29/2025 to 10/30/2030
Focused efforts on maternal and child mental health and broad tele-buprenorphine access aim to address rural behavioral health access gaps.
Retention programs target rural clinicians and advanced practice providers to stabilize and grow the rural health workforce.
Expansion of telehealth access points and technology support improves rural residents' access to care.
MN - 2026 - Minnesota Department of Health RHTP Technical Advisory Services for Health Information Technology (HIT) Purchases Request for Proposals
Auto-grouped context match (38%)
MN - 2026 - Minnesota awarded $193 million for first year of RHTP
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MN - 2025 - RHTP Project ECHO for Maternal and Behavioral Health RFP
Auto-grouped context match (38%)
MN - 2026 - Request for Proposal: RHTP: Project ECHO for Maternal and Behavioral Health
Auto-grouped context match (37%)
Due Oct 30, 2026
1 related document
MN - 2026 - Request for Proposal: Rural Residency Training Grant Program
GovDelivery RFP announcement
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
Due Oct 30, 2026
1 related document
MN - 2026 - Fy 2027 Rural Clinical Rotations Grant Program Grant Request For Proposal (RFP)
Primary source
Minnesota Department of Health
Due Sep 14, 2026
5 related documents
MN - 2025 - Open Request for Proposal: Rural Telehealth Services Center Needs Assessment and Design Proposal
Primary source
| FY↓ | Awardee↕ | Amount↕ | Activity↕ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Minnesota EMS Agencies Grant funds to EMS Agencies to implement rural ambulance treatment in place pilot. | $9.2M | EMS Development | |
| 2026 | Stratis Health Provide technical assistance services for Health Care Providers on Health Information Technology for Rural Health Transformation Program grant. | $883K | Health IT | |
| 2026 | HealthForce MN Funds evidence-based Scrubs Camps and HOSA future health professional chapters to introduce rural K-12 students to healthcare careers, and provides earn-and-train pathways for rural workers to gain entry-level health care credentials while working part-time for rural employers. | $655K | Workforce | |
| 2026 | Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance Work with rural health care employers to support career growth opportunities for rural workers to become community health workers (CHWs) and community health representatives (CHRs) through apprenticeships, training, and credentialing. | $386K | Workforce | |
| 2026 | Technology Management Corporation Provide technical advisory services to MDH on Health Information Technology purchases made by sub-recipients of the Rural Health Transformation Program grant. | $330K | Health IT | |
| 2026 | Minnesota Office of EMS Pilot test an ambulance service treatment in place project. The OEMS will define treatment in place and using this definition provide funds to rural ambulance services that opt into the project. Treatment in place is treatment that occurs when an ambulance service responds to a 911 call but does not transport the caller to the hospital. These calls are not reimbursable by insurance. OEMS will further refine this model and under the direction of MDH, implement this pilot model to test the impact of these funds for sustainability of rural ambulance services. | $281K | EMS Development | |
| 2026 | Minnesota Management and Budget MMB will provide expert evaluation services including evaluation design, data collection planning, and metrics development and use support for Minnesota’s Rural Health Transformation Program. | $276K | Other | |
| 2026 | Minnesota Medical Association Provide Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) series on mental/behavioral health services to provide care-based learning and mentorship programs as a part of the Minnesota Rural Health Transformation Program. | $165K | Population Health | |
| 2026 | Minnesota Perinatal Organization Provide Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) series on topics including maternal health (inclusive of maternal mental health) to provide care-based learning and mentorship programs as a part of the Minnesota Rural Health Transformation Program. | $165K | Population Health | |
| 2026 | Freya + Co Support Minnesota’s Rural Health Transformation Program by designing and facilitating structured meetings of the Minnesota Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Education Development Council, supporting consensus building across diverse stakeholders, and ensuring that the council’s work results in clear, actionable recommendations. | $69K | Population Health |
This practical guide aims to assist rural health programs, practitioners, and partners in understanding and advancing innovation within rural health systems. It provides strategies, tools, and examples for designing, implementing, and scaling innovative approaches tailored to rural realities. Focus areas include community-centered design, workforce development, appropriate technology adoption, care models, partnerships, evaluation, financing, and leadership. Key contacts: Britta Anderson; Alycia Bayne; Alana Knudson; Luciana Rocha
Contacts
Core Initiatives
The funding supports rural K-12 healthcare career exposure via Scrubs Camps and HOSA chapters, plus pathways for rural workers to train and earn credentials while employed part-time at rural health employers. This dual approach aims to build and retain a rural health workforce.
Core Initiatives
Minnesota awarded funding to the Minnesota Perinatal Organization and Minnesota Medical Association to deliver Project ECHO series focused on maternal and behavioral health. These awards support enhancement of care-based learning and mentorship in rural health settings. Key contacts: health.orhpcc@state.mn.us Event schedule: - Award Announcement Date - 09/17/2026 - Minnesota Department of Health
Minnesota funds a $69,000 award to Freya + Co to support rural opioid use disorder education through facilitation of stakeholder council meetings. This aims to foster actionable recommendations to improve medication access in rural regions. Key contacts: health.orhpc@state.mn.us Event schedule: - Award Notification - 09/17/2026
Minnesota Department of Health posted a Request for Proposal for the Rural Clinical Rotations Grant Program, targeting clinical training programs including physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, and other related professions. The application deadline is October 30, 2026. Event schedule: - Application deadline - 10/30/2026 - 4:30 P.M. CT
Event Schedule
This document provides guidelines for the approved use of Minnesota's RHTP logo by sub-recipients. It covers acceptable formats, color palettes, and placement to ensure consistent branding in materials related to RHTP funding.
Minnesota awarded $275,945 to Minnesota Management and Budget for expert evaluation services to support its Rural Health Transformation Program. The evaluation includes design, data collection planning, and metrics development to advance program effectiveness. Key contacts: health.orhp@state.mn.us Event schedule: - award date - 09/17/2026
Event Schedule
Contacts
The Rural Health Transformation Program (CFDA 93.798) is allocated $10 billion in federal discretionary funding for FY 2026. This is one of the largest competitive health grants in the HHS portfolio, focusing on rural hospital and Medicaid transformation.
Reference: Department of Health allocated 2% of the state's first-year award to 10 Link: https://thecirclenews.org/medicaid-changes-put-pressure-on-tribal-health-care-as-new-federal-funding-reaches-minnesota/
03/31/2027
Draft Recommendations Report Due
05/07/2027
Final Recommendations Report Due
March – May, 2027
Pilot Site Selection
09/30/2027
Contract End
03/31/2027
Draft pilot funding recommendations due
05/07/2027
Final pilot recommendations report due
09/01/2027
Anticipated Contract End
December 2026, March 2027, June 2027, September 2027
Written Progress Reports Due
09/01/2026
Anticipated Contract Start
MN RHTP site updated — 9 new, 1 existing source(s) refreshed
MN - 2026 - Request for Proposal: Rural Clinical Rotations Grant Program
Sep 14, 2026 15:54
·EmailMN - 2026 - Request for Proposal: Rural Residency Training Grant Program
Sep 14, 2026 15:53
·EmailMN RHTP site updated — 1 new, 1 existing source(s) refreshed
MN RHTP site updated — 1 new, 2 existing source(s) refreshed
Spreadsheets, data exports, and reference documents — available for download but excluded from the main activity feed. Showing the 40 most recent of 108.
MN - 2026 - Department of Health allocated 2% of the state's first-year award to 10
MN - 2026 - Cost Proposal: Analysis of the Rural Maternity Care System
Minnesota Health Care Loan Forgiveness Program
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Confirmation of Practice Form – Full-Time Practice Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program
Race/Ethnicity/Gender Survey Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program
Payment Verification Form for Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
Confirmation of Practice Form – Half-Time Practice Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program
Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program Qualified Loan Form
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MN - 2026 - Sample Contract: Technical Assistance for Rural Health Care Entities in Support of Community & Clinical Linkages (PDF)
MN - 2026 - ORHPC Health Care Funding - MN Dept. of Health
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State of Minnesota Professional and Technical Services Contract
Minnesota Management & BudgetStatewide Operating Procedure RHTP 2011 Document
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Minnesota Management & BudgetStatewide Operating Policy RHTP 2011 Document
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Minnesota Statewide Operating Procedure RHTP 2012 Document
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Minnesota Statewide Operating Policy RHTP 2012 Annual Report
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Minnesota Statewide Operating Procedure RHTP 2012 Document
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Minnesota Statewide Operating Policy RHTP 2014 Document
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Minnesota QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE February 20, 2024 Run SWIFT Queries For Supplier Contract Data This Guide Provides A List Of SWIFT Queries Agencies Commonly Use To Look Up Informat
Appropriation Maintenance Application (AMA) Glossary
Minnesota RHTP 2014 Document
Minnesota Statewide Operating Policy Owner: Minnesota Management And Budget, Debt Management RHTP 2011 Document
Minnesota Management And Budget Statewide Operating Procedure Minnesota Management And Budget, Budget Division Number 0306-01.1 Issued: January 16, 2014 Revised: N/A Legislative Ad
Minnesota Statewide Operating Policy Owner: Minnesota Management And Budget, Financial Reporting Unit Number: 0402-02 Issued: April 1, 2014 Last Major Revision: July 1, 2015 Last U
Minnesota Wire Transfer Request Part 1: Paying Agency Information Agency Requesting Wire: Business Unit: Part 2: Wire Instructions Date To Wire The Funds: Wire Amount In US Dollars
Minnesota Procedure Number #0802-02.1 Date Issued: 08/06/2015 Date Revised: 08/06/2024 Warrant Special Handling Authority: Minnesota Management And Budget, Vendor Payments Unit Req
Minnesota Appendix A – Risk Assessment Agencies Number Agency Name 1. Department Of Administration (Cabinet) 2. Department Of Agriculture (Cabinet) 3. Department Of Commerce (Cabin
Minnesota RHTP 2015 Document
Minnesota Sales and Use Tax - Direct Pay Authorization
Minnesota Statewide Operating Policy Owner: Minnesota Management And Budget, Accounting Services RHTP 2017 Document
Minnesota Management And Budget Statewide Operating Procedure Minnesota Management And Budget, Budget Division Number 0301-01.2 Issued: June 24, 2015 Revised: N/A Modifying Appropr
Minnesota Statewide Operating Policy Owner: Minnesota Management And Budget, Budget Division Number: 0204-01 Issued: November 8, 2013 Last Major Revision: N/A Last Updated: Septemb
Minnesota Policy Number #0802-02 Date Issued: 08/06/2015 Date Revised: 08/06/2024 Warrant Special Handling Authority: Minnesota Management And Budget, Vendor Payments Unit Request
Minnesota RHTP 2015 Document
Minnesota Policy Number #0102-01 Date Issued: 08/02/2018 Date Revised: 03/09/2020 Internal Control System Authority: Minnesota Management And Budget, Internal Control And Accountab
Minnesota Management And Budget Statewide Operating Procedure Minnesota Management And Budget, Cash Management Unit Number 0601-01.1 Issued: January 16, 2015 Revised: N/A Request T
Minnesota RHTP 2011 Document
Minnesota RHTP 2015 Document
Minnesota QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE September 9, 2024 Troubleshooting Payments On Interagency Vouchers SWIFT Uses The Bilateral Netting Process To Issue Payments From One Agency To Ano
ORHPC General Grant Forms
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MN - 2026 - Request for Proposals: Needs Assessment and Design Proposal for a Potential Rural Telehealth Services Center (RTSC) in Minnesota
Rural Telehealth Services Center Needs Assessment RFP
MN - 2026 - RFP Attachments: Rural Telehealth Services
Rural Telehealth Services RFP Attachments
MN - 2026 - Cost Proposal: Rural Telehealth Services
Rural Telehealth Services Cost Proposal
MN - 2026 - Sample Contract: Technical Assistance for Rural Health Care Entities in Support of Community & Clinical Linkages (PDF)
Minnesota RHTP Sample Contract
Event schedule: - All applicants must be able to demonstrate applicable membership and compliance with their corresponding accrediting bodies. * *Applications Due:* , 4:30 p.m. More information is available: Rural Health Transformation... - *Application Deadline: , 2026* - July 17 - *Eligible Applicants:* State, county, city, township, and tribal governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of h...
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Event Schedule
Contacts
Core Initiatives
Event Schedule
Contacts
Core Initiatives
Minnesota Department of Health posted a Request for Proposal for the Rural Residency Training Grant Program with an application deadline of October 30, 2026. The program aims to support rural residency programs training medical residents in primary care specialties at rural and underserved community-based sites. Event schedule: - Application deadline - 10/30/2026 - 4:30 P.M. CT
Event Schedule
This Minnesota Department of Health RFP funds expansion of rural clinical rotations for physician, PA, APRN, pharmacy, dentistry, dental therapy, and mental health training programs. Up to $2.5 million will be distributed to 4-8 grantees for adding, expanding, or enhancing clinical training in rural communities. Programs must demonstrate strong rural partnerships and commitment to rural health workforce development. Health equity and diversity are prioritized. Key contacts: Health.ORHPC.WorkforceGrants@state.mn.us Event schedule: - RFP Published - 09/14/2026 - CT - Informational Webinar - 09/29/2026 - 1:00 PM CT - Teams Webinar - Application Deadline - 10/30/2026 - 4:30 PM CT - Estimated Grant Distribution Announcement - Grant Period Start - 03/01/2027 - Grant Period End - 02/29/2028
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Core Initiatives
This solicitation aims to engage a vendor with experience in rural health, health services research, and hospital finance to develop recommendations for sustainable rural maternal care delivery models. The process will include stakeholder engagement, technical assistance, financial analysis, and scenario modeling to inform future pilot funding with RHTP dollars. Community and provider perspectives are prioritized, and the engagement strategy expects evidence-based frameworks and quarterly reporting. Key contacts: Emma Distel rural.transformation.MDH@state.mn.us Event schedule: - Application Deadline - 09/11/2026 - 12:00 PM CT - SWIFT Supplier Portal - Q&A Deadline - 08/31/2026 - 12:00 PM CT - Email to rural.transformation.MDH@state.mn.us - Anticipated Contract Start - September 2026 - CT - Anticipated Award Selection - 09/30/2026 - CT
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Core Initiatives
This Minnesota Department of Health RFP solicits proposals to assess needs and develop a design for a new telehealth services center supporting rural healthcare providers statewide. The work will identify gaps in rural telehealth, propose models for a centralized or alternative telecommunications center, and recommend strategies for overcoming regulatory, technological, and workforce barriers. The contract will run from September 2026 to September 2027, with deliverables including a comprehensive needs assessment, design options, final report, and summary presentation. Key contacts: Zomi Bloom grants.ruraltransformation.mdh@state.mn.us Event schedule: - Questions Due - 09/02/2026 - CT - Anticipated Evaluation & Selection Complete - 09/20/2026 - CT - Solicitation Multi-Factor Authentication Required - 10/16/2022 - CT - Anticipated Contract Term - September 2026 to September 2027 - CT
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Contacts
Core Initiatives
The Minnesota Department of Health will allocate approximately $4,000,000 for a needs assessment contract to design and evaluate the Rural Telehealth Services Center (RTSC) as part of RHTP. The program will prioritize Minnesota rural providers and coordinate with Tribal Nations, examining specialty clinical domains and telehealth service models. Assessment deliverables include stakeholder engagement, evaluation of interoperability, and identification of priority domains for future implementation. Event schedule: - Anticipated contract award date - 09/20/2026 - CT - Kickoff call - Interim Report submission deadline (6 months) - Final Report submission deadline (12 months)
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Core Initiatives
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is soliciting vendor proposals for the Rural Health Transformation Program focused on rural maternity care system analysis and recommendations. The project is fully federally funded, with a maximum available budget of $3 million for the first period. Deliverables include iterative preliminary and final recommendations, advisory group engagement, and pilot site selection and support. Technical assistance and provider engagement are key features, and the RUCA methodology will be used to define rural areas. Event schedule: - Estimated Date of Award - 09/30/2026 - CT - Written Progress Reports - December 2026, March 2027, June 2027, September 2027 - CT
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Core Initiatives