Rural Health Transformation Funds Awarded in All 50 States

January 21, 2026 · NCQA Public Policy

The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program is a $50 billion federal initiative designed to empower states to strengthen rural communities across America.ⁱ Authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the program encourages states to expand access to care, support investment in improved technology infrastructure and drive long-term sustainability.

All 50 states applied for the new program, focusing their plans on workforce development, technology and data modernization, behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment, EMS and mobile care innovation, primary care access and Federally Qualified Health Center networks, facility modernization and program sustainability.ⁱⁱ

“NCQA applauds this critical investment that will help states implement bold strategies to expand access and strengthen care delivery in rural communities,” said Kristine Toppe, Vice President of State Affairs. “We’re excited to collaborate with states as they utilize the resources to advance program priorities in primary care, behavioral health and telehealth, and deliver lasting improvements in rural healthcare.”

Learn more about how funds have been distributed to states here.

What The Funds Mean for States

States will use the funding to execute their proposed plans. While each state outlined different initiatives, most focus on a combination of the following approved uses:

Care Delivery 

• Providing payments to healthcare providers for healthcare items or services.

• Helping rural communities to right-size their healthcare delivery systems by identifying needed services.

• Supporting access to treatment for substance use, opioid use disorder and behavioral health services.

Managing Chronic Disease

• Promoting evidence-based, measurable interventions—including consumer-facing, technology-driven solutions—to help prevent and manage chronic diseases.

Technology

• Providing training and technical assistance for rural hospitals to implement technologies that improve care delivery, such as remote monitoring, robotics and artificial intelligence.

• Providing technical support—including software and hardware—for significant information technology advancements to improve efficiency, cybersecurity and patient outcomes.

Alternative Payment Models

• Supporting innovative models of care, including value-based care arrangements and alternative payment models.

Workforce Expansion

• Recruiting and retaining clinicians to serve rural areas, with a minimum 5-year commitment.

How NCQA Can Help

NCQA develops standards and measures that can support state oversight and improve healthcare quality and access for rural populations.

Virtual Care Accreditation. Expanding telehealth services can help states improve access while also giving consumers tools to help prevent and manage chronic diseases. NCQA’s Virtual Care Accreditation provides a roadmap for delivering high-quality virtual primary and urgent care, fostering confidence and trust in telehealth services. Currently, Covered California encourages contracted plans to utilize network providers offering virtual care to improve access to behavioral health services in rural areas and collects information on whether those providers hold NCQA Virtual Care Accreditation.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) Accreditation. CCBHCs are a federally recognized model for improving access to behavioral health, substance use disorder and opioid use disorder treatment services. NCQA’s CCBHC Accreditation program provides an efficient way for states to expand this vital model for rural communities. Connecticut has utilized previous federal planning grant funds to require NCQA’s CCBHC Accreditation.

Industry Alignment. NCQA is currently hosting industry working groups focused on wellness and digital patient engagement, and the use of AI, which are yielding promising recommendations and best practices that could benefit states as they develop their rural health strategies.

“Collaboration is key as states implement their rural health strategies,” says Toppe. “NCQA looks forward to partnering with states to implement programs and measures that will drive improvement in access and quality of care for people living in rural areas.”

Contact NCQA’s Public Policy Team if you have questions or need technical assistance.