Utah RHTP
Utah’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a bold, multi-faceted innovative effort aimed at generational investments to build resilient, sustainable rural health systems. This outcome-focused program will be guided by four strategic pillars—Making Rural Utahns Healthy, Workforce Development, Innovation and Access, and Technology Innovation. Within these strategic pillars, Utah will implement seven integrated initiatives in collaboration with state, local, tribal, and community partners to create a rural health ecosystem designed to improve health outcomes: PATH (Preventive Action and Transformation for Health); RISE (Rural Incentive and Skill Expansion): SHIFT (Sustaining Health Infrastructure for Transformation); FAST (Financial Approaches for Sustainable Transformation); LIFT (Leveraging Innovation for Facilitated Telehealth): SUPPORT (Shared Utilities for Partnered Provider Operational Resources and Technology); and LINCS (Leveraging Interoperability Networks to Connect Services).
The Utah Healthcare Education & Research Foundation, a 501(c)3 subsidiary of the Utah Hospital Association, is administering four key activities of Utah’s overall RHTP. You’ll find more information below.
RISE 2.5 Recruit and Retain for Tier 1 Eligible Rural Hospitals
The RISE 2.5 key action is meant to help rural hospitals recruit and retain rural workforce through structured incentive awards for high-need professions. Hospitals will choose from a defined menu of incentive options, build a budget around them, and be reimbursed for approved costs. The program also encourages hospitals to test new recruitment and retention practices and to plan for sustaining successful positions and incentives after the funding period. The purpose of this RFA is to inform Utah’s 25 eligible Tier 1 rural hospitals how to apply for funding as a subrecipient and leverage these funds to strengthen their clinical workforce now and in the future. This RFA describes the application process, use of funds, eligibility requirements, incentive options, funding details, reporting requirements, and five-year service commitment required by some of the incentive options.
SPRINT Initiatives
SHIFT 3.1: Capital Infrastructure and Equipment
This RFA will fund capital infrastructure improvements, equipment upgrades, and related planning activities under Utah’s RHTP Key Action 3.1 — Support Capital Infrastructure Improvements — to improve care delivery, keep care local, and improve the quality of care in rural Utah. Eligible activities include minor building alterations or renovations that repurpose existing space or expand services (e.g. pharmacy, dialysis, behavioral health, cancer care, maternal health), physical space improvements to enable telehealth, new or upgraded equipment to meet quality and safety standards, facility master planning and service line feasibility studies, and the establishment or expansion of rural receiving centers offering 24/7 crisis stabilization.
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Budget Template (Budgets will be embedded in the application. Use this template only if you require more detail)
FAST 4.2 – Revenue Cycle Optimization
This RFA will fund projects under Utah’s RHTP Key Action 4.2 — Develop Infrastructure for Revenue Cycle Optimization — to help rural hospitals, clinics, and other eligible providers strengthen the financial systems that keep care available locally. Eligible activities include but are not limited to denials management support and coding/billing training and certification; patient registration and scheduling improvements to reduce missed appointments and increase revenue; and payer negotiation support, patient portal development, and AI/chatbot technology.
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Request for Application (RFA) Guidance
- Budget Template (Budgets will be embedded in the application. Use this template only if you require more detail)
FAST 4.3 – Specialty Care Pilot (APM)
This RFA funds a pilot under RHTP Key Action 4.3 — Implement a Pilot to Increase Specialty Care Access. The pilot provides per diem payments to specialists delivering on-site specialty care at small rural hospitals and clinics that do not currently have a sustainable specialty service line. This payment model stabilizes specialist earnings during the start-up phase, directly offsetting barriers such as travel time and initially low patient volume. The goal is not ongoing subsidy: support is structured to mitigate financial risk while the specialist builds a consistent patient load, so the on-site practice can transition to a financially self-sustaining service line and provide rural residents a reliable, long-term pathway to specialty care.
- Budget Template (Budgets will be embedded in the application. Use this template only if you require more detail)
Questions & Technical Assistance
For application support, eligibility verification, or allowable expense guidance, contact:
Utah Hospital Association (UHA)
Email: RHTP@utahhospitals.org
Utah RHTP Resources
Utah DHHS RHTP website: https://dhhs.utah.gov/ruralhealth/
Utah DHHS RHTP Funding Opportunities: https://dhhs.utah.gov/ruralhealth/funding-opportunities/
CMS NOFO: https://dhhs.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/NOFO-RHTP-2.pdf
Utah’s Rural Health Transformation Project Narrative: https://dhhs.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/Utah-RHTP-Revised-Project-Narrative_v.1.28.26.pdf
Utah RHTP Notice of Award (NoA): https://dhhs.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/NOA_RHTCMS332051-01-00.pdf