Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program received $208,779,396 in FY2026 federal funding, administered by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
What Is the Rural Health Transformation Program?
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a landmark $50 billion federal initiative created under Section 71401 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21). Administered by CMS, the program distributes $10 billion annually from FY2026 through FY2030 to all 50 states through cooperative agreements — no state matching funds required.
RHTP is designed to transform rural healthcare by investing in infrastructure, technology, workforce, and care delivery models that create lasting, sustainable improvements for rural communities. Learn more about RHTP on our hub page.
Five Strategic Goals
Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program
Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is administered by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
Key Initiatives & Focus Areas
- HEART initiative for rural healthcare access and equity
- PACT telehealth and care coordination program
- RISE AR rural healthcare workforce development
- THRIVE telehealth monitoring and remote care
- Stakeholder engagement through proposals portal
Unique Aspects of Arkansas’s Program
- Four branded sub-initiatives (HEART, PACT, RISE AR, THRIVE) create distinct program identities
- Governor opened a public portal for proposals, enabling direct provider participation
- Stakeholder meetings began in late February 2026 with strong provider engagement
- Strong telehealth and remote patient monitoring focus under the THRIVE initiative
- Department of Finance and Administration leads — reflecting fiscal accountability emphasis
- Gov. Sanders announced the first-round awards Aug 27, 2026: $149.3M to 50 recipients — $55.7M via THRIVE and $93.6M via PACT. UAMS separately received $11.99M across 4 sub-projects, including $2.98M for Arkansas Pregnancy Care Connect maternal mobile clinics and $5.4M for SPARK, a rural stroke pathway spanning 63 hospitals and EMS agencies
- Second funding round announced September 24-25, 2026: $54.6M distributed to dozens of additional recipients; UAMS separately confirmed over $5M more under HEART and RISE ARKANSAS for six programs, bringing the state's 2026 total to over $200M toward its roughly $1B five-year allocation
Open RHTP Funding Opportunities in Arkansas
No open funding opportunities are currently listed for Arkansas. Check the official Arkansas RHTP page for the latest solicitations.
How Technology Supports Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program
The Interoperability Challenge
Rural healthcare facilities face significant technology gaps compared to their urban counterparts. Nationally, only 48% of rural hospitals have achieved basic interoperability, compared to 62% of urban hospitals. This data-sharing gap directly impacts care quality, coordination, and outcomes for rural patients.
RHTP’s Strategic Goal 5 specifically targets technology innovation, including a Technology Innovation Catalyst Fund that supports interoperability, telehealth, remote patient monitoring, AI-enabled health tools, and cybersecurity.
How Julota Addresses RHTP Technology Requirements
Julota is a cloud-based SaaS interoperability platform purpose-built for the challenges rural healthcare organizations face. Here’s how Julota supports RHTP goals in Arkansas:
- FHIR-Native Interoperability: Julota’s platform supports HL7 FHIR APIs and G10 compliance, meeting the interoperability standards required by Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program and the 21st Century Cures Act. Learn about Julota’s platform.
- Health Information Exchange Connectivity: Connect rural providers across Arkansas to state and regional HIEs, enabling real-time data sharing that improves care coordination and reduces duplication.
- Care Coordination & Closed-Loop Referrals: Julota’s closed-loop referral management ensures patients don’t fall through the cracks — critical for rural communities where follow-up can require long-distance travel.
- MIH-CP & Community Paramedicine Support: Julota’s MIH-CP solution supports the mobile integrated health and community paramedicine models that many states are funding under RHTP.
Rural Health Transformation Program Eligibility in Arkansas
Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funds flow from CMS to Arkansas through a cooperative agreement. The state then distributes funds to eligible subrecipients through competitive processes.
Eligible Organization Types
- Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) — Rural hospitals with 25 or fewer beds
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) — Community health centers serving underserved populations
- Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) — Clinics in designated shortage areas
- Community Behavioral Health Providers — Including Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) — Ambulance services and first responders
- Tribal Health Organizations — Indian Health Service and tribal facilities
- Local Health Departments — County and regional public health agencies
- Universities and Training Programs — Workforce development partners
How to Apply
Organizations in Arkansas should contact Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration for subrecipient application details. Most states distribute RHTP funds through competitive RFP processes that require demonstrating alignment with the state’s approved Rural Health Transformation Plan.
Key compliance requirements include SAM.gov registration, adherence to 2 CFR 200 uniform guidance, and commitment to quarterly and annual reporting on performance metrics and milestones.
Key Questions About Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program
How much did Arkansas receive for rural health transformation?
Arkansas was awarded $208,779,396 in FY2026 RHTP funding through CMS. The program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration under Governor Sanders' direction.
What are the HEART, PACT, RISE AR, and THRIVE initiatives?
These are four branded sub-initiatives within Arkansas's RHTP. HEART focuses on healthcare access, PACT on telehealth and care coordination, RISE AR on workforce development, and THRIVE on telehealth monitoring and remote care delivery. Arkansas awarded its first round of funding in August 2026: $149.3 million to 50 recipients, including $55.7 million via THRIVE and $93.6 million via PACT.
How can Arkansas providers apply for RHTP funding?
Governor Sanders opened a public proposals portal where rural healthcare providers can submit proposals for RHTP funding. Stakeholder meetings have been ongoing since late February 2026 to guide the application process.
Who is eligible for RHTP in Arkansas?
Eligible organizations include Critical Access Hospitals, FQHCs, Rural Health Clinics, behavioral health providers, EMS agencies, community health centers, and other healthcare organizations serving Arkansas's rural population.
What technology does Arkansas's RHTP support?
Arkansas's RHTP supports telehealth infrastructure under PACT and THRIVE, remote patient monitoring, health IT interoperability, EHR modernization, and data sharing platforms to connect rural providers across the state.
What is the THRIVE initiative in Arkansas?
THRIVE is Arkansas's telehealth monitoring initiative under RHTP, focused on expanding remote care capabilities, remote patient monitoring technology, and digital health tools for rural communities.
When did Arkansas RHTP stakeholder meetings begin?
Stakeholder meetings began in late February 2026, bringing together rural healthcare providers, community organizations, and state officials to shape the implementation of Arkansas's $208.8 million RHTP award.
Does Arkansas need to match RHTP funds?
No. The RHTP does not require state matching funds. Arkansas receives its full FY2026 award of $208,779,396 directly from CMS through a cooperative agreement.
Ready to Support Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program?
Julota helps rural healthcare organizations meet Rural Health Transformation Program interoperability requirements with a cloud-based platform that connects providers, enables data sharing, and supports care coordination across your community.