FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 26 2025
Contact: Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757
jebelt@mt.gov
DPHHS Invites Public Input on Major Rural Health Care Funding Opportunity
Agency to host public webinar on $50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program
The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is inviting health care colleagues and community members to a public webinar to discuss the development of Montana’s application for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This federal program offers a critical opportunity to secure substantial funding to stabilize and transform rural health care systems across the state.
The webinar and public comment session will take place on Thursday, Oct. 2, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Registration is required - Register here.
"The perspectives of Montana's health care community and rural residents are absolutely essential as we craft a competitive application for this vital funding," said DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton. "We encourage all stakeholders to attend this webinar and help shape the strategy that will best meet the unique needs of our rural communities."
The RHTP, established by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is authorized to provide $50 billion in federal funding over five budget periods (FFY 2026–2030) to participating states. This funding is specifically designed to stabilize and transform rural health care delivery systems, including hospitals and other essential providers.
Montana must submit an application to CMS by Nov. 5, 2025. Funding will be allocated as follows:
- 50% will be divided equally among all approved state applicants
- 25% is based on statistics about states’ rural populations
- 25% is based on how well each state’s proposed initiatives and policy actions align with CMS criteria
Successful initiatives must address five core areas: population health, partnerships and emergency medical services (EMS), workforce, payments and duals, and technology and data.
DPHHS briefed both the Health and Human Services Interim Budget Committee and the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee on the RHTP funding during their scheduled meetings in September.
During the webinar, Dir. Brereton and DPHHS Medicaid and Health Services Executive Director Rebecca de Camara will provide an overview of the RHTP and the CMS priorities that will guide Montana’s strategy development.
Following the presentation, the meeting will be dedicated to public comment and the opportunity for DPHHS officials to hear additional ideas from participants on how best to uplift rural health across Montana. All input received during the webinar will be used to inform the state's official strategy and priorities, building upon initial feedback received from the RHTP Request for Information (RFI).
More detailed information about the RHTP can be found in the RHTP CMS document.
“DPHHS is committed to ensuring all voices are heard within the aggressive application timeline and looks forward to strong engagement from Montanans,” Dir. Brereton said.