Overview
Federal law in Public Law (PL) 119-21, also known as H.R. 1, section 71401, creates a Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) federal grant, available to each of the 50 states. The RHTP was authorized to empower states to strengthen rural communities by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for people living in rural areas in each state.
Connecticut received a $154 million federal grant for the first year of the RHTP. Based on this award, if similar amounts are awarded in years 2 through 5, it would result in a program totaling approximately $750 million.
The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) is Connecticut’s lead agency for RHTP, partnering with other state agencies to implement 30 projects. The projects are organized across four initiatives, including population health outcomes, workforce, data and technology, and care transformation and stability.
The RHTP was developed through extensive public engagement, including more than 250 written comments, meetings with health care providers, local government officials, and community organizations, as well as in-person and virtual listening sessions. DSS will continue to provide stakeholder engagement opportunities throughout the implementation process.
Additional information about the Rural Health Transformation Program, including opportunities for public engagement, will be made available as implementation proceeds.
The Agencies Involved
The State of Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) is collaborating with several state agencies in implementing Connecticut’s RHTP, including the Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS), the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), Department of Agriculture (DoAg), Department of Public Health (DPH), Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Office of Health Strategy (OHS), Office of Rural Health at the Connecticut State Community College - Northwest (ORH), State Department of Education (SDE), and Area Health Education Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center (AHEC). Our goal is to leverage RHTP to improve the health of residents in rural areas of the state.
About Rural Heath
To learn more about Connecticut's overall initiatives related to rural health, please visit the Connecticut State Office of Rural Health website.
Stay Connected
Please bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates related to public comment opportunities, webinars and other information. If you have any feedback, questions, or inquiries, please direct them to RHTP-Questions@ct.gov. You can also stay updated by signing up for our email updates.
Information for Prospective Vendors and Other Prospective Partners
Parties interested in being subrecipients of RHTP funding are encouraged to check back here on this webpage regularly for updates, as well as the state procurement website/portal and other standard channels for potential funding opportunities. Please note that funding will be restricted to federally approved projects. Please see Connecticut’s full rural health transformation grant application for proposed projects. Rural Health Transformation Program--Documents
Documents
On November 4, 2025, the Department submitted the State’s application for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Rural Health Transformation Program, including a required endorsement letter from Governor Lamont. Application and related documents can be viewed on the Documents page.
Federal Disclaimer
This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $154,249,105.53 in Budget Period 1 with 100% funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.