Analysis | Sep 17, 2025

CMS Releases Rural Health Transformation Funding Opportunity

Anne Karl, Avi Herring, Liz Osius, and Jacob Rains, Manatt Health

On September 15, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for states to apply for funds under the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, established by H.R.1. This analysis summarizes the NOFO including the allowable uses of funding, application components, and the distribution and scoring methodology. Administered by CMS, the program will distribute $10 billion annually from 2026 through 2030; 50% of those payments will be distributed equally across states with an approved Rural Health Transformation Plan, while the remaining half will be distributed to states at the discretion of CMS. The fund presents an opportunity for states to secure federal funding to support investments in rural healthcare.


Expert Perspectives

May 22, 2026

The Power of Transparency: How States Can Use Data Dashboards to Effectively Monitor H.R. 1

H.R. 1 will bring wide-reaching changes to the Medicaid program and as these provisions take effect, states will face questions about how the changes are impacting both the Medicaid program and the individuals who rely on it for coverage. This expert perspective outlines the case for state H.R. 1 data dashboards, provides practical design guidance, and highlights successful examples of recent state dashboards.