# Iowa — Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) The Iowa Rural Health Transformation Program, led by Iowa Health and Human Services with multi-year federal support, advances through pilot and competitive RFP phases to strengthen rural health infrastructure and sustain Critical Access Hospitals and rural providers. Current implementation emphasizes collaborative hub-and-spoke care models—especially for oncology and cardiovascular health—network expansion, workforce recruitment, telehealth integration, and evidence-based initiatives managed via IowaGrants.gov. The structured plan focuses on building Health Hubs, expanding cancer screening and treatment, co-locating rural providers, enhancing health information exchange, and mobile EMS community care. Current structured plan tracks 5 key initiatives and 10 strategic goals. ## At a glance - Federal awards to date: $425,047,721.03 (Year 1 $209.0M + Year 2 $216.0M) - Implementation phase (RCJ): IMPLEMENTING - Funding opportunities tracked: 14 (2 open or announced, 12 closed) - Awards recorded: $11.0M to 16 recipients - Critical Access Hospitals: 82 - Rural population share: 36% ## Current progress Iowa continues to implement its Rural Health Transformation Program, Healthy Hometowns, with over $78 million already awarded and new grant opportunities in process. The state has launched key initiatives such as Hometown Connections and the Combat Cancer Health Hub Program, with multiple RFPs for cancer, cardiovascular, maternal health, residencies, and equipment acquisition active or recently closed. State dashboards confirm ongoing statewide rollout, with $226.2M in funding listed and active procurement. This sustained activity aligns with Iowa's telehealth and prevention strategies. State opportunities: 1 active (1 closing soon, 8 past/closed), $226.2M listed funding. Key opportunities: Iowa Cardiovascular Health Hub and Spoke Networks (RFP COMPADM26007); Iowa School Based Services (RFP MEDIOMC26023); Iowa Best and Brightest Medical Equipment Program (RFP PHTHORC26011). Strategy alignment: supports telehealth, prevention, maternal health priorities. ## CMS published status (State Data Maps) - State Policy Action commitments: 4 of 19 - Initiatives (5), current CMS stage of each: - Combat Cancer: Prevent and Treat — Stage 2 - Communities of Care — Stage 2 - EMS Community Care Mobile — Stage 2 - Health Information Exchange — Stage 2 - Hometown Connections — Stage 2 - CMS data captured 2026-11-11, last confirmed 2026-11-11 ## Open and announced opportunities - [Iowa Cardiovascular Health Hub and Spoke Networks (RFP COMPADM26007)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/iowa-cardiovascular-health-hub-and-spoke-networks-rfp-compadm26007--b7fa75bce3) — RFP; Closing soon; due 2026-11-17; $33.4M - [IA - Notice of Intent - Public Health Lead Entities (RFP PHTHOPD27001)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/ia-notice-of-intent-public-health-lead-entities-rfp-phthopd27001--89687226ad) — RFI; Announced, not yet open ## Closed opportunities (12, most recent first) - [Iowa School Based Services (RFP MEDIOMC26023)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/iowa-school-based-services-rfp-mediomc26023--786c347413) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-09-23; $80.2M - [Healthy Hometowns: Mobile Integrated Health (RFP # PHTHOET27001)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/healthy-hometowns-mobile-integrated-health-rfp-phthoet27001--c9ad0c6e5c) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-09-01 - [Healthy Hometowns Communities of Care Co-Location Program (RFP COMPADM26005)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/healthy-hometowns-communities-of-care-co-location-program-rfp-compadm26005--ad04dfbdbf) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-09-01; $24.0M - [Iowa Maternal Health Hub and Spoke Networks (RFP COMPADM26006)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/iowa-maternal-health-hub-and-spoke-networks-rfp-compadm26006--d7227f36dc) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-09-01; $38.6M - [Healthy Hometowns: High-Risk OB and Neonatal Transport Request For Proposal](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/healthy-hometowns-high-risk-ob-and-neonatal-transport-request-for-proposal--966d02c5be) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-09-01 - [IA - Notice of Intent - Colorectal Cancer Screening (RFP PHTHOCC27705)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/ia-notice-of-intent-colorectal-cancer-screening-rfp-phthocc27705--bfd401b803) — RFI; Closed; due 2026-08-31 - [Iowa Rural Residency Program Development (RFP PHTHORC27001)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/iowa-rural-residency-program-development-rfp-phthorc27001--c3bf7d707a) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-08-24; state-funded, not RHTP - [Iowa RHTP: Combat Cancer Health Hubs](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/iowa-rhtp-combat-cancer-health-hubs--e60c5fdeb5) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-06-17 - [Iowa Best and Brightest Medical Equipment Program (RFP PHTHORC26011)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/iowa-best-and-brightest-medical-equipment-program-rfp-phthorc26011--da460662dd) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-06-12; $50.0M - [Centers of Excellence (RFP PHTHORC26008) — Notice of Intent to Award](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/centers-of-excellence-rfp-phthorc26008-notice-of-intent-to-award--918232df4c) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-02-05 - [Iowa Federal RHTP Award: Year 1 (FY 2026)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/iowa-federal-rhtp-award-year-1-fy-2026--95f4da4306) — AWARD; Closed; $209.0M - [Iowa Federal RHTP Award: Year 2 (FY 2027)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/iowa-federal-rhtp-award-year-2-fy-2027--6aff80eaf7) — AWARD; Closed; $216.0M ## Largest recorded awards - Combat Cancer Health Hub Program — $11.0M (FY2026) - Adair County Memorial Hospital — amount not published (FY2026) - Avera Holy Family Hospital — amount not published (FY2026) - Boone County Hospital — amount not published (FY2026) - Cass County Memorial Hospital DBA Cass Health — amount not published (FY2026) - CHI Health Mercy Corning — amount not published (FY2026) - Central Iowa Hospital Corporation — amount not published (FYFY2026) - Decatur County Hospital — amount not published (FYFY2026) - Guttenberg Municipal Hospital — amount not published (FYFY2026) - Iowa Specialty Hospital — amount not published (FYFY2026) - Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital — amount not published (FYFY2026) - Knoxville Hospital and Clinics — amount not published (FYFY2026) - Manning Regional Health Care Center — amount not published (FYFY2026) - Marengo Memorial Hospital — amount not published (FYFY2026) - Shelby Co. DBA Myrtue Medical Center — amount not published (FYFY2026) ## Official sources RCJ monitors - [IA RHTP Primary](https://hhs.iowa.gov/initiatives/healthy-hometowns-iowas-rural-health-transformation-plan) - [IA Subsidiary 1](https://hhs.iowa.gov/about/funding-opportunities) - [IA Release / Application 1](https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/2026-01-30/iowa-first-nation-award-rural-health-transformation-program-funding) --- Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ia — data as of 2026-11-11. Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.