Minnesota

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

Minnesota has been awarded over $193 million for the first year of the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program, recognizing its plan to strengthen rural health. Funding targets technological innovation, workforce expansion, and improving outcomes for chronic diseases. The strategic plan was developed through broad stakeholder input and supports sustainable rural health delivery. Key contacts: Andrea Ahneman andrea.ahneman@state.mn.us Event schedule: - MDH application submitted - 11/04/2025 - News Release Date - 12/30/2025 - Implementation begins - Early 2026

The Minnesota Health Care Loan Forgiveness Program offers up to $6,000 annually to licensed public health nurses working in rural areas. The program supports retention by requiring a minimum three-year service commitment in designated rural communities. Key contacts: Elizabeth Fenske health.loanforgiveness@state.mn.us; Dan Merkl health.loanforgiveness@state.mn.us; Gao Nue Xiong health.loanforgiveness@state.mn.us; Mai Ia Ong Vang health.loanforgiveness@state.mn.us Event schedule: - Application cycle open - 11/01/2026 - Application cycle close - 01/06/2027

Minnesota's Health Care Loan Forgiveness Program targets rural health workforce shortages by providing conditional loan forgiveness to eligible health professionals. Applications open in late 2026 for multiple professions including registered nurses and dental therapists. Key contacts: Office of Rural Health and Primary Care health.loanforgiveness@state.mn.us Event schedule: - Registered Nurses Loan Forgiveness Application Cycle Opens - 08/01/2026 - General Eligible Professions Application Cycle - 11/01/2026 to 01/06/2027

This Q&A addresses applicant questions for Minnesota’s RHTP-funded Healthcare Workforce Retention Program, clarifying eligibility, rural definitions, proposal requirements, budget parameters, and expectations for multi-year work. Up to 10 rural healthcare sites per year may be supported, focusing on mitigating clinical burnout and improving retention using evidence-based strategies. Rural is defined by RUCA 4-10, and applicants must demonstrate experience with Minnesota rural health systems. Event schedule: - Estimated Contract Execution - September 2026 - Budget Period 1 End Date - 09/30/2027

Minnesota is soliciting public input to inform the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program, seeking ideas to sustainably improve rural health care delivery. Focus areas include emergency, primary, chronic, mental, and maternal health, as well as workforce and technology solutions. The document provides structured prompts for input on evidence-based interventions, innovative care models, workforce development, and technology use.

Minnesota seeks $1 billion over five years (2026-2030) from RHTP. The plan focuses on rural health workforce, new access points via telehealth and regional models, supporting financial sustainability, and expanding services. The application was shaped by over 40 stakeholder meetings and nearly 350 public comments.

This record documents the issuance of a federal-state Rural Health Transformation Program award to Maine. The program aims to make rural healthcare resilient and integrated, benefiting rural residents. No recipient sub-awards or further local allocations are announced here. Event schedule: - CMS award issue date - 08/07/2026

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.

This document provides general information about the Minnesota Office of Rural Health and Primary Care and notes the 2025 Minnesota Rural Health Award winners announced on November 20, 2025. It references National Rural Health Day annually in November but contains no specific RHTP award or funding details.

This is a new RHTP solicitation from the Minnesota Department of Health offering up to $4,000,000 for TA vendors that can support rural hospitals, clinics, and Tribal Nations. Around 125 organizations, including 94 rural hospitals and numerous FQHCs, CCBHCs, and Tribal Nations, are eligible to benefit. Priority areas include community-clinical linkages, workforce expansion, telehealth, and financial sustainability.

The Hospital Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program provides loan repayment for RNs committing to two years of full-time work in Minnesota nonprofit or public hospitals. Eligible candidates must work at least 30 hours per week in direct patient care and live in Minnesota during the contract period. Key contacts: health.loanforgiveness@state.mn.us Event schedule: - Applicant Notification Date - 03/31/2027

This document confirms subscription to the Rural Health Transformation Program updates from the Minnesota Department of Health. No funding or award details are included.