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rhtp support

 
1.What is “Rural Texas Strong”?
Rural Texas Strong is the name HHSC gave the Texas application that was submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) office. This plan was required to be eligible for the funding opportunity. Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is the name of the program developed as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Additionally, some will refer to the program as just Rural Transformation (RT). All of these names are centered around the same $50 billion allocated to all 50 states over five years to help transform rural health care.
 
2.Where can I find more information about the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)?
HHSC’s RHTP website is Rural Health Transformation Program | Provider Finance Department
 
3.What are Rural Texas Strong Initiatives?
There are six Rural Texas Strong Initiatives. These initiatives identify how Texas will use RHTP funding to invest in rural health care and improve health outcomes for rural Texans and are described in Texas’ RHTP application. The initiatives were created based on input from stakeholders to HHSC during the RHTP application period. To learn more information about the initiatives, review the project narrative in the Texas RHTP application.
 
4.How will the RHTP funding be distributed to rural communities?
Each of the six initiatives will begin and operate under separate timelines. HHSC will be working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of Rural Health Transformation (ORHT) to align the proposed application and plan with the updated funding amounts.
 
5.What entities are eligible for RHTP funding?
Each of the six initiatives identifies key stakeholders for each initiative and general guidelines on who may apply for the initiative. The HHSC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will provide more clarity on who may apply.
 
6.How do I access the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)?
After release, the RHT Program NOFO is posted on Grants.gov. The link to the NOFO will also posted on the TORCH website.
 
7.Is there a requirement to sustain an initiative after the initial five years of funding?
Yes. Each of the six initiatives has specific language on sustainability after the five years of funding.
 
8.May I use RHTP funds for construction?
Initiative #6: Infrastructure and Capital Improvement does allow for construction, but not “NEW” construction. For example, a facility may expand its emergency room but is not allowed to build a “new” stand alone emergency room.
 
9.What is the difference between RHTP funding and grants from the Office of Rural Hospital Finance at HHSC?
Rural Health Transformation Program grants are sourced from federal funding from the Working Families Tax Cut legislation (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21). RHTP is time limited funding and will only be available from 2026-2030. Grants originating from HHSC’s Office of Rural Hospital Finance are sourced from state General Revenue. These include the following: (1) Financial Stability, (2) Innovation, (3) Pediatric-TeleConnectivity, (4) Rural Hospital Support and (5) Emergency Hardship grants. The 89th Texas Legislature, 2025, enacted the Rural Health Stabilization and Innovation Act, House Bill 18 to create these state grant programs. These grant programs are continuing as long as legislative funding is continued. They were codified in law in the Texas Government Code Section 526.0322. Rural hospitals and certain rural health clinics are eligible to apply for the Office of Rural Hospital Finance grants. More information, including eligibility information for these grants can be found on the HHSC web site.
 
10. I’m a vendor that wants to work with TORCH members on RHTP. What steps do I need to take?
TORCH values the solutions vendors bring to healthcare across Texas. Please contact Leeza Stone for further information. [email protected]
 
 
 
 


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