FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 11 2025
Contact: Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757
jebelt@mt.gov
DPHHS Issues Request for Information on New $50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program
HELENA – The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is seeking input from health care providers and other stakeholders as it begins developing Montana’s application for federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding.
H.R. 1, passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, established a $50 billion fund for states with an approved rural health transformation plan, with $10 billion available annually from FY2026 through FY2030. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must award the funds by December 31, 2025, and will likely require states to submit applications sometime this fall.
"The Rural Health Transformation Program presents a historic opportunity for our state,” said DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton. “We aim to leverage these funds in a meaningful, sustainable way that improves health outcomes and brings more high-quality care to our most rural communities. I encourage all Montanans to review the Request for Information and be part of this important process.”
DPHHS is proactively gathering input through a Request for Information (RFI).
Feedback from rural health care providers, hospitals, clinics, community organizations, payers, workforce entities, universities, tribal nations, and local governments will be critical to informing the State’s rural health transformation plan. DPHHS invites interested parties to submit ideas, possible projects, and other relevant information, including projected project budgets, for preliminary consideration.
The RFI is available on the Montana Acquisition & Contracting System (eMACS) under RFI Number DPHHS-RFI-2026-0633AP. In the keyword search function, use the word “Transformation” to locate this particular RFI. For additional assistance, contact the Department of Administration at 406-444-2575.
A direct link to the RFI has also been posted on the DPHHS home page: https://dphhs.mt.gov/RuralHealthTransformationProgramRFI.
Responses can be submitted in eMACS or via email to dphhspio@mt.gov by using the subject line “RHTP RFI.” RFI responses should be submitted no later than August 22, 2025.
More information regarding the RHTP can be found in the RFI.