# Minnesota — Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

The Minnesota Rural Health Transformation Program, administered by the Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, is currently implementing structured initiatives supporting rural and Tribal healthcare through recurring grant awards for hospitals, clinics, Tribal Nations, and clinicians. The program’s major focus areas continue to include workforce retention and development—including rural residency and mental health workforce training, loan forgiveness, and clinical training expansion—as well as hospital capital improvement, maternal and behavioral health, telehealth infrastructure, technical assistance, and ongoing program evaluation. Scheduled grant cycles, targeted RFPs with defined eligibility, and event timelines confirm active implementation posture. Current structured plan tracks 5 key initiatives and 10 strategic goals.

## At a glance

- Federal awards to date: $383,924,188.85 (Year 1 $193.1M + Year 2 $190.8M)
- Implementation phase (RCJ): IMPLEMENTING
- Funding opportunities tracked: 37 (4 open or announced, 33 closed)
- Awards recorded: $15.7M to 20 recipients
- Critical Access Hospitals: 94
- Rural population share: 22%

## Current progress

Minnesota is actively implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program, with multiple grant applications open or upcoming through fiscal year 2027 and recent administrative supplements awarded to support program enhancements. The state has issued RFPs and grants for initiatives across workforce, telehealth, behavioral health, and clinical education, and continues technical assistance to subrecipients. All state opportunities are currently closed, with $393.6M in listed funding and new RFPs expected as existing projects progress. CMS continues to list Minnesota's initiatives at Stage 2 (implementation), with no evidence of scaling to new cohorts. State opportunities: 20 total (20 past/closed), $8.6M listed funding. Key opportunities: Minnesota RHTP Grants – Rural Federally Qualified Health Centers; Rural Health Transformation Program: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiatives; Minnesota Rural Health Transformation Program Grants – Rural Hospitals. Strategy alignment: supports workforce, telehealth, prevention priorities.

## CMS published status (State Data Maps)

- State Policy Action commitments: 0 of 19
- Initiatives (5), current CMS stage of each:
  - Community-Based Preventive Care and Chronic Disease Management — Stage 2
  - Create Regional Care Models to Improve Whole Person Health — Stage 2
  - Invest in Technology, Infrastructure, and Collaboration for Financial Viability — Stage 2
  - Recruit and Retain Talent in Rural Communities — Stage 2
  - Sustain Access to Services to Keep Care Closer to Home — Stage 2
- CMS data captured 2026-11-11, last confirmed 2026-11-11

## Open and announced opportunities

- [Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant Program – FY2027](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-hospital-capital-improvement-grant-program-fy2027--b08617812f) — RFP; Open; due 2026-12-11; $45,000 – $125,000; state-funded, not RHTP
- [Rural Hospital Planning & Transition Grant Program – FY2027](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-hospital-planning-transition-grant-program-fy2027--54173c5291) — RFP; Open; due 2026-12-11; $25,000 – $49,000; state-funded, not RHTP
- [Minnesota Healthcare Loan Forgiveness Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/minnesota-healthcare-loan-forgiveness-program--bc39bc00f7) — GRANT; Open; due 2027-01-07; state-funded, not RHTP
- [FY2027 Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Training Grant Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/fy2027-pediatric-primary-care-mental-health-training-grant-program--b76c191a9a) — RFP; Open; due 2027-01-25; $50,000 – $400,000; state-funded, not RHTP

## Closed opportunities (33, most recent first)

- [2027 Community Clinic Grant Program — Fiscal Year 2027 Grant Request for Proposal](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/2027-community-clinic-grant-program-fiscal-year-2027-grant-request-for-proposal--bed7fed0b4) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-10-30; $45,000; state-funded, not RHTP
- [FY 2027 Rural Clinical Rotations Grant Program Request For Proposal](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/fy-2027-rural-clinical-rotations-grant-program-request-for-proposal--41b6522b33) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-10-30; $400,000; state-funded, not RHTP
- [FY2027 Rural Family Medicine Residency Grant Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/fy2027-rural-family-medicine-residency-grant-program--577bb1c38e) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-10-30; $400,000; state-funded, not RHTP
- [Rural Residency Training Grant Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-residency-training-grant-program--333ea6817d) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-10-30
- [FY2027 Primary Care Residency Expansion Grant Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/fy2027-primary-care-residency-expansion-grant-program--cc4c41d7c4) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-10-16; $75,000 – $400,000; state-funded, not RHTP
- [Request for Proposals: Needs Assessment and Design Proposal for a Potential Rural Telehealth Services Center (RTSC) in Minnesota](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/request-for-proposals-needs-assessment-and-design-proposal-for-a-potential-rural--e33eaea741) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-09-14
- [Analysis of the Rural Maternity Care System](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/analysis-of-the-rural-maternity-care-system--7f61e18f75) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-09-11
- [Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/minnesota-state-loan-repayment-program--212fe0a017) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-09-10; state-funded, not RHTP
- [Minnesota RHTP: Technical Assistance for Rural Health Care Entities in Support of Community & Clinical Linkages](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/minnesota-rhtp-technical-assistance-for-rural-health-care-entities-in-support-of--cc23b4e52f) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-08-07
- [Rural Clinical Fellowship for Advanced Practice Providers and Other Clinicians](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-clinical-fellowship-for-advanced-practice-providers-and-other-clinicians--a6e98b0678) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-07-31
- [Rural Health Transformation Program: Physician Rural Residency Training Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-health-transformation-program-physician-rural-residency-training-program--9d2545e4b6) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-06-30
- [Rural Health Transformation Program: Rural Clinical Rotations Expansion Grant Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-health-transformation-program-rural-clinical-rotations-expansion-grant-pro--32d4f4b7f7) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-06-30
- [RHTP Telehealth Access Points](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rhtp-telehealth-access-points--d6d3759229) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-06-30; $50,000 – $75,000
- [Rural Health Transformation Program: Statewide Tele-buprenorphine Access Line](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-health-transformation-program-statewide-tele-buprenorphine-access-line--3c741779e9) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-06-29; $1.0M
- [Minnesota Rural Health Transformation Program: Healthcare Workforce Retention Program](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/minnesota-rural-health-transformation-program-healthcare-workforce-retention-pro--ccb7f531fb) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-06-22; $183,000
- [Rural Health Transformation Program: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiatives](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-health-transformation-program-child-and-adolescent-mental-health-initiativ--7ab0817371) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-06-15; $1 – $1.8M
- [Project ECHO for Maternal and Behavioral Health (Rural Health Transformation Program)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/project-echo-for-maternal-and-behavioral-health-rural-health-transformation-prog--35477b1fa2) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-06-03; $330,000
- [Minnesota RHTP: Identifying Performance Measures for Rural Health Transformation Program Health Information Technology Investments (Quick Call for Proposals)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/minnesota-rhtp-identifying-performance-measures-for-rural-health-transformation--651965bff5) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-05-26; $25,000
- [Minnesota RHTP Grants – Rural Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/minnesota-rhtp-grants-rural-certified-community-behavioral-health-clinics-ccbhcs--095e2c3ca0) — NOFO; Closed; due 2026-05-26; $240,000
- [Minnesota RHTP Grants – Rural Federally Qualified Health Centers](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/minnesota-rhtp-grants-rural-federally-qualified-health-centers--14a6ac7271) — NOFO; Closed; due 2026-05-26; $1.9M
- [Minnesota Rural Health Transformation Program Grants – Rural Hospitals](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/minnesota-rural-health-transformation-program-grants-rural-hospitals--9d39075421) — NOFO; Closed; due 2026-05-26; $1.4M
- [Minnesota Rural Health Transformation Program Grants – Tribal Nations](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/minnesota-rural-health-transformation-program-grants-tribal-nations--77e5673a1a) — NOFO; Closed; due 2026-05-26; $150,000 – $807,996
- [Rural Health Transformation Program – Technical Assistance for Health Information Technology](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-health-transformation-program-technical-assistance-for-health-information--06316dea1e) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-05-22; $900,000
- [Minnesota RHTP: Health Information Technology Advisory Services](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/minnesota-rhtp-health-information-technology-advisory-services--e1288fcb5b) — RFP; Closed; due 2026-04-20
- [Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant Program – FY2026](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-hospital-capital-improvement-grant-program-fy2026--a7dcfe5437) — RFP; Closed; due 2025-12-12; $45,000 – $125,000; state-funded, not RHTP

## Largest recorded awards

- Minnesota EMS Agencies — $9.2M (FY2026)
- Stratis Health — $883,371 (FY2026)
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe — $807,996 (FY2026-2027)
- White Earth Nation — $650,747 (FY2026-2027)
- Red Lake Nation — $636,631 (FY2026-2027)
- Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa — $567,076 (FY2026-2027)
- Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance — $386,146 (FY2026)
- Technology Management Corporation — $330,100 (FY2026)
- Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe — $318,427 (FY2026-2027)
- Minnesota Office of EMS — $281,000 (FY2026)
- Minnesota Management and Budget — $275,945 (FY2026)
- Bois Forte Band of Chippewa — $252,129 (FY2026-2027)
- Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa — $178,422 (FY2026-2027)
- Minnesota Medical Association — $165,007 (FY2026)
- Minnesota Perinatal Organization — $165,000 (FY2026)

## Official sources RCJ monitors

- [MN RHTP Primary](https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/ruraltrans/index.html)
- [MN Release / Application](https://taggs.hhs.gov/Detail/AwardDetail?arg_AwardNum=RHTCMS332077&arg_ProgOfficeCode=190)
- [MN RHTP Grants](https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/ruraltrans/grants.html)
- [MN ORHPC Grants and Funding](https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/funding/grants/index.html)

---
Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/mn — data as of 2026-11-12.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.