DHS Releases New Round of Rural Health Transformation Program Funding

Today, July 10, 2026, the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) released the next announcement for Rural Health Transformation Program funding. This is a new round of funding for the following entities to either onboard to PA’s Health Information Exchange (P3N) or to implement a Certified Electronic Health Record as follows:

1. Update or implement a Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) system in accordance with 45 CFR 170.315 (relating to ONC certification criteria for health IT), become a participant in one of the Commonwealth's five certified Health Information Organizations (HIO), and fully onboard to the P3N.
2. Participate in one of the Commonwealth's five certified HIOs and fully onboard to the P3N.

Under section 203-H of the Fiscal Code (72 P.S. § 203-H), DHS is authorized to issue program payments to qualified entities under the Rural Health Transformation Program.

For these payments, the following entities may submit a request for funding and eligibility certification:

• Hospitals licensed as a general acute care by the Department of Health;
• Long-term care nursing facilities as defined in section 802.1 of the Health Care Facilities Act (35 P.S. § 448.802a);
• Home health care agencies as defined in section 802.1;
• Behavioral health providers, identified by either a license or certificate of compliance from the Department, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, or a psychiatric hospital licensed by the Department of Health;
• Community homes for individuals with an intellectual disability or autism licensed under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 6400 (relating to community homes for individuals with an intellectual disability or autism) and serving at least 11 residents; and/or
• Intermediate care facilities for individuals with an intellectual disability licensed under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 6600 (relating to intermediate care facilities for individuals with an intellectual disability) and serving at least 11 residents.

The total funding available for all program payments under this notice is capped at no more than $25 million, and eligibility certifications will be accepted from 8:00 am July 27, 2026, through 11:59 pm August 14, 2026, or until the authorized funding cap has been met, whichever is sooner. While not yet updated, the new application will posted at DHS’s website. DHS will make one payment per qualified entity, which may include multiple locations.

Table 1 lists the maximum award per provider type, activity, and location.

Table 1: Program Payment Award Caps

Program payments will be authorized in the order eligibility certifications are received.

Please visit the RHTP Funding Opportunity page to become familiar with the requirements and deadlines for this funding. Please also note that this payment is an initial funding opportunity. If you do not qualify for this RHTP payment, a future opportunity may be a better fit. Refer to the list of upcoming funding opportunities to for a preview of what to expect this year.

If you have questions, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director.