# Wisconsin — Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

The Wisconsin Rural Health Transformation Program is actively implementing a multi-year, CMS-funded initiative led by the Department of Health Services and guided by an advisory council representing providers and community stakeholders. Current implementation maintains a focus on workforce development, technology innovation, and rural partnerships through competitive grant opportunities administered by the DHS Office of Grants Management with multi-agency technical assistance. Ongoing activities include project expansion, evaluation, and quarterly advisory council review to guide adaptive funding allocation based on project outcomes. Current structured plan tracks 3 key initiatives and 10 strategic goals.

## At a glance

- Federal awards to date: $407,365,094.25 (Year 1 $203.7M + Year 2 $203.7M)
- Implementation phase (RCJ): IMPLEMENTING
- Funding opportunities tracked: 9 (0 open or announced, 9 closed)
- Awards recorded: $22.1M to 16 recipients
- Critical Access Hospitals: 59
- Rural population share: 30%

## Current progress

Wisconsin is actively implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program, with several grant application periods closed, multiple procurements launched, and additional solicitations planned. The advisory council meets regularly and technical assistance remains available for applicants. Funding is contingent on CMS approval for some grant categories, and program staff hiring is nearly complete. CMS lists three state initiatives at Stage 2, confirming ongoing implementation but not full program operation. State opportunities: 7 total (7 past/closed), $10.0M listed funding. Key opportunities: Workforce Innovation Grant: Healthcare Employment, Access, and Rural Transformation (WIG:HEART); Community Health Workers (CHW) Training Providers; Community Health Workers Grants: Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce in Wisconsin. Strategy alignment: supports workforce, telehealth, care access priorities.

## CMS published status (State Data Maps)

- State Policy Action commitments: 1 of 19
- Initiatives (3), current CMS stage of each:
  - Interoperability Infrastructure and Modernization — Stage 2
  - Population Health Infrastructure — Stage 2
  - Rural Talent Recruitment and Retention — Stage 2
- CMS data captured 2026-11-11, last confirmed 2026-11-11

## Open and announced opportunities

None open right now.

## Closed opportunities (9, most recent first)

- [Community Health Workers (CHW) Training Providers](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/community-health-workers-chw-training-providers--39e8772091) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-08-21
- [Coordinating Care Across Wisconsin: Innovating Healthcare Through Partnership Grants (RHTP)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/coordinating-care-across-wisconsin-innovating-healthcare-through-partnership-gra--e242899892) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-08-21
- [Workforce Innovation Grant: Healthcare Employment, Access, and Rural Transformation (WIG:HEART)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/workforce-innovation-grant-healthcare-employment-access-and-rural-transformation--d044979cc9) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-08-17; $500,000 – $10.0M
- [Community Health Workers Grants: Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce in Wisconsin](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/community-health-workers-grants-strengthening-the-rural-health-workforce-in-wisc--edb6a1c212) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-08-07
- [Rural Technology Transformation Fund: Allocations to Improve Health Services in Rural Wisconsin](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-technology-transformation-fund-allocations-to-improve-health-services-in-r--a19aa84184) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-08-02
- [Rural Dental Efficiency and Access Grant](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-dental-efficiency-and-access-grant--7c21259e17) — RFA; Closed; due 2026-07-27
- [Wisconsin RHTP CTE Rural Healthcare Workforce Grant](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/wisconsin-rhtp-cte-rural-healthcare-workforce-grant--d5a1322c2d) — GRANT; Closed; due 2026-06-30
- [Wisconsin Federal RHTP Award: Year 1 (FY 2026)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/wisconsin-federal-rhtp-award-year-1-fy-2026--ea90758686) — AWARD; Closed; $203.7M
- [Wisconsin Federal RHTP Award: Year 2 (FY 2027)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/wisconsin-federal-rhtp-award-year-2-fy-2027--bbbf300bd8) — AWARD; Closed; $203.7M

## Largest recorded awards

- Northwood — $3.2M (FY2026)
- Chippewa Valley — $1.9M (FY2026)
- Northcentral — $1.9M (FY2026)
- Western — $1.8M (FY2026)
- Northeast — $1.8M (FY2026)
- Nicolet — $1.8M (FY2026)
- Southwest — $1.6M (FY2026)
- Madison — $1.5M (FY2026)
- Mid-State — $1.3M (FY2026)
- Fox Valley — $1.2M (FY2026)
- Moraine Park — $1.1M (FY2026)
- Gateway — $826,788 (FY2026)
- Lakeshore — $658,830 (FY2026)
- Blackhawk — $603,380 (FY2026)
- Waukesha — $512,140 (FY2026)

## Official sources RCJ monitors

- [WI DHS GEARS Grant Portal](https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/gears/index.htm)
- [WI Office of Rural Health Events](https://worh.org/events/)
- [WI DHS RHTP Program Page](https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/business/rhtp.htm)
- [WI DPI RHTP CTE Grant Program](https://dpi.wi.gov/cte/rhtp-grant)
- [WI RHTP Grant Opportunities (anticipated)](https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rhtp/opportunities.htm)
- [WI DHS RHTP Advisory Council](https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/business/rhtpac.htm)
- [WI DHS Current Grant Funding Opportunities](https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/business/solicitations-list.htm)
- [NRHA linked funding/procurement page](https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rhtp/index.htm)
- [WI DWD WIG:HEART Workforce Grant](https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/det/heart/)
- [WI RHTP Primary](https://worh.org/rhtp)

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