Rural Health Systems · Readiness · 6 min read
Is your organization ready for RHTP? A checklist for rural health systems and hospitals
rural health systems and hospitals are RHTP-ready when they have a fundable program tied to the right allowable-use categories, a partner relationship with the state's mechanism, a measurement plan, and a path to sustainability beyond FY2030. The most common gap is sustainability planning.
Readiness checklist
Before pursuing RHTP dollars, rural health systems and hospitals should be able to answer yes to each:
- Do you have a fundable program (e.g., service-line stabilization (OB, ED, behavioral health))?
- Can you map it to additional uses that promote sustainable access, and payments to providers for items or services?
- Do you know your state's solicitation path? (Rural systems are frequently direct sub-recipients of state RHTP solicitations and often anchor regional partnerships.)
- Can you measure service availability and avoided closures and related outcomes?
- Do you have a sustainability plan for after FY2030?
The gap most organizations miss
Funding new services without a sustainability plan risks creating capacity that collapses when the program sunsets in FY2030.
Frequently asked questions
- What disqualifies rural health systems and hospitals most often?
- A weak measurement story or no sustainability plan. Funding new services without a sustainability plan risks creating capacity that collapses when the program sunsets in FY2030.
- How long does readiness take to build?
- Organizations with an existing program and data can be ready in weeks; those starting from scratch should plan for months.
Figures reflect the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program NOFO and the December 2025 award announcement. RHTP Tracker is an independent resource by Moodr Health and is not affiliated with CMS.