Rhode Island

In June 2025, Rhode Island announced $6,695,000 in one-time grants to 85 primary care practices to boost recruitment and retention of primary care providers. The funding targets Medicaid-enrolled providers and those enrolling in Medicaid, focusing on improving access and capacity in key populations. Key contacts: ohhs.medicaidprogramcao@ohhs.ri.gov Event schedule: - The federal government is making changes to Medicaid programs across the country. Effective , 2026, new federal laws will stop Medicaid for some people who are not U.S. citizens. Starting in 2027, some adults on Medic... - Any applicant that receives the grant award and does not meet the required deliverables by the specified deadline and/or does not fully expend awarded funds by , 2025, will be required to return the funds to Rhode Isl...

Rhode Island's application for Rural Community Health Network (RCHN) development offers $155,000 for initial community engagement activities and public health supplies. The initiative aims to create community-driven, integrated local health networks through the RHTP. Eligible entities include municipalities and community-based organizations with local relationships. Key contacts: Christopher J. Ausura Christopher.J.Ausura@ohhs.ri.gov Event schedule: - Application Open - 07/30/2026 - Application Close - 08/30/2026

Rhode Island is soliciting a vendor to administer its Health Information Technology Rural Infrastructure Fund. The selected administrator will provide technical assistance and oversee distribution of HIT funds to rural providers. The goal is to improve rural health providers’ IT capacity through coordinated support and grant management. Event schedule: - Opportunity Posted - 06/04/2026 - ET - Vendor Q&A Opens - 06/04/2026 - 2:15 PM ET - Vendor Q&A Closes - 06/11/2026 - 2:00 PM ET - Response Deadline - 07/01/2026 - ET

Rhode Island is investing opioid settlement, Medicaid, and federal funds in a comprehensive continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery strategies, with an emphasis on school-based mental health, access to naloxone, and improving equity. Over 100 program contracts are in place, with robust data-driven evaluation and continuous review of outcome indicators. Major funds are allocated to recovery supports, school and community-based prevention, and harm reduction infrastructure.

Core Initiatives

1. make rural America healthy again – improve the health of rural residents
2. sustainable access – expand access to comprehensive, quality, low-cost care
3. workforce development – strengthen the rural health care workforce

Year 1 includes thirteen initiatives such as supporting hospitals and primary care in value-based payment transition, rural workforce development, health IT modernization, hospital-at-home programs, and expanding behavioral health services. The program also involves policy changes to empower pharmacists and dental hygienists, promote interstate licensure compacts, and enhance continuing medical education requirements. These efforts aim to increase access to lower-cost care and strengthen the rural healthcare workforce. Event schedule: - Budget amendment submission and announcement - 04/02/2026 - 14:17 ET - Providence, RI

This document is a set of standard reporting templates for Rhode Island's RHTP Tier 2 mini-grant recipients in FY2025, capturing patient panel size, provider staffing, expenditures, and payer mix at multiple time points. Reports require practices to detail how funds are used to support rural primary care access and workforce. Only de-identified provider sample data is included. Event schedule: - Baseline Report Data Date - 04/01/2025 - Status Report Period - April 2, 2025 - September 19, 2025 - Final Report Period - September 20, 2025 - December 31, 2025

The program focuses on expanding access to care through FQHCs, delivering hospital care at home, advancing value-based care, combating the opioid crisis, modernizing Health IT, growing the health workforce, and supporting local health systems including Block Island and the Narragansett Indian Tribe. The award follows a competitive application led by the McKee administration with robust stakeholder and community engagement. Key contacts: Richard Charest; Ana Novais; Jerry Larkin, MD Event schedule: - Federal Award Announcement - 12/30/2025 - N/A - Providence, RI

Rhode Island is launching a Rural Stakeholder Advisory Council to guide implementation of the Rural Health Transformation Program, engaging diverse representatives from rural health systems and communities. The Council will monitor progress, provide stakeholder input, and strengthen alignment of program activities with local needs. Membership will include rural hospitals, health systems, emergency medical services, behavioral health providers, community organizations, and tribal representatives. Key contacts: Kilah Walters-Clinton Kilah.WaltersClinton@ohhs.ri.gov Event schedule: - The federal government is making changes to Medicaid programs across the country. Effective , 2026, new federal laws will stop Medicaid for some people who are not U.S. citizens. Starting in 2027, some adults on Medic...