# Kentucky — Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

The Kentucky Rural Health Transformation Program is implementing a five-year, statewide initiative with phased rollout of regional community hubs focused on chronic care (including diabetes and obesity), maternal health, behavioral health crisis response, rural dental access, EMS transformation, and community health worker training. Teams and pilots are underway, with structured applications and funding opportunities for health departments, EMS agencies, behavioral health organizations, and educational institutions, emphasizing technology-enabled care, multisector collaboration, and achievement of measurable performance metrics. The current plan tracks 5 major initiatives and strategic goals, coordinated by multiple partners with federal support. Current structured plan tracks 5 key initiatives and 5 strategic goals.

## At a glance

- Federal awards to date: $424,236,189.38 (Year 1 $212.9M + Year 2 $211.3M)
- Implementation phase (RCJ): IMPLEMENTING
- Funding opportunities tracked: 13 (1 open or announced, 12 closed)
- Critical Access Hospitals: 26
- Rural population share: 38%

## Current progress

Kentucky has received CMS funding and officially launched the Rural Health Transformation Program. Multiple RFAs and applications are open or underway across EMS, dental, behavioral health, and the Rural Community Hubs for Chronic Care Innovation. Implementation is progressing with hub launches in several Area Development Districts, active recruitment of Hub Lead Organizations, and live platform operations supported by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. Program management and technology administration are ongoing, with recruitment, procurement, and coordination activities continuing statewide. State opportunities: 1 active (1 open, 10 past/closed), $3.8M listed funding. Key opportunities: 2026 Request for Applications: Rural Community Hub Lead Organization (BP1: Rural Community Hub Launch; March 1, 2027 – September 30, 2027); Kentucky RHT Funding Opportunity to Develop Community Health Worker Specialized Certificates; Crisis to Care: Establish or Expand Community Paramedicine Program. Strategy alignment: supports prevention, workforce, maternal health priorities.

## CMS published status (State Data Maps)

- State Policy Action commitments: 0 of 19
- Initiatives (5), current CMS stage of each:
  - From Crisis to Care: Integrated EMS and Trauma Response — Stage 2
  - PoWERing Rural Maternal and Infant Health: Community-Based Teams — Stage 2
  - Rapid Response to Recovery: EmPATH Model, Mobile Crisis and Telehealth — Stage 2
  - Rooted in Health: Kentucky Rural Dental Access Program — Stage 2
  - Rural Community Hubs for Chronic Care Innovations — Stage 2
- CMS data captured 2026-11-11, last confirmed 2026-11-11

## Open and announced opportunities

- [2026 Request for Applications: Rural Community Hub Lead Organization (BP1: Rural Community Hub Launch; March 1, 2027 – September 30, 2027)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/2026-request-for-applications-rural-community-hub-lead-organization-bp1-rural-co--fdd751565d) — RFA; Open; due 2026-12-18; $500,000

## Closed opportunities (12, most recent first)

- [Kentucky RHT Funding Opportunity to Develop Community Health Worker Specialized Certificates](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/kentucky-rht-funding-opportunity-to-develop-community-health-worker-specialized--cb4965b410) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-08-05; $800,000
- [Kentucky RHT: Rapid Response to Recovery — CMHC Support](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/kentucky-rht-rapid-response-to-recovery-cmhc-support--5fe676fc2e) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-07-06
- [Rural Health Transformation Program Rapid Response to Recovery – Telebehavioral Health Support](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-health-transformation-program-rapid-response-to-recovery-telebehavioral-he--d07ff48a45) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-07-03
- [Rural Health Transformation Program: Rapid Response to Recovery – Telebehavioral Health Support](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-health-transformation-program-rapid-response-to-recovery-telebehavioral-he--43e93a7ee9) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-07-03
- [Crisis to Care: Establish or Expand Community Paramedicine Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/crisis-to-care-establish-or-expand-community-paramedicine-program--a53ecb1709) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-06-12; $500,000 – $650,000
- [From Crisis to Care: Education & Training Modernization](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/from-crisis-to-care-education-training-modernization--e5bffde7d7) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-06-12; $470,000
- [Rooted in Health: Definitive Mobile Dental Services](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rooted-in-health-definitive-mobile-dental-services--26843e695b) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-06-12; $470,000
- [Kentucky Rural Community Hubs for Chronic Care Innovation — Lead Organization RFA](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/kentucky-rural-community-hubs-for-chronic-care-innovation-lead-organization-rfa--27929b0248) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-06-01
- [Public Health Dental Hygiene Teams in Local Health Department RFA](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/public-health-dental-hygiene-teams-in-local-health-department-rfa--1d8c3ad7ed) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-04-24; $470,000
- [Rooted in Health: Rural Dental Access](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rooted-in-health-rural-dental-access--ab38d144bf) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-04-24; $470,000
- [Kentucky Federal RHTP Award: Year 1 (FY 2026)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/kentucky-federal-rhtp-award-year-1-fy-2026--9664ca4d19) — AWARD; Closed; $212.9M
- [Kentucky Federal RHTP Award: Year 2 (FY 2027)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/kentucky-federal-rhtp-award-year-2-fy-2027--621dbc66b6) — AWARD; Closed; $211.3M

## Official sources RCJ monitors

- [KY Release / Application](https://www.kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?m=47&n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2666)
- [KY Rural Community Hubs for Chronic Care Innovation](https://healthy-ky.org/rch)
- [KY Release / Application 5](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?m=47&n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2666)
- [KY CHFS Rapid Response to Recovery – CMHC Support RFA](https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oas/Documents/RHT%20CMHC%20Support%20-%20RFA.pdf)
- [KY RHT Rapid Response to Recovery - Telebehavioral Health Support RFA](https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oas/Documents/RHT%20Telebehavioral%20Health%20Support%20-%20RFA.pdf)

---
Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ky — data as of 2026-11-11.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.