Tennessee to Release 1st Grant Funding Opportunity of Rural Health Transformation Program

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) released the first funding opportunity today of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This begins a roll-out of competitive grant programs to deliver long-term, sustainable improvements in Tennessee’s rural health systems.

“Tennessee is committed to strengthening rural health care and ensuring every resident has access to high-quality services, no matter where they live,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said. “Through the Rural Health Transformation Program, we are responding to rural community needs by investing in structural solutions that will improve outcomes for rural families.”

A link to the RHTP grant application portal, with funding materials and submission instructions, is available on both the RHTP homepage and in its Opportunities content section.

Today’s release marks the first in a series of 2026 funding opportunities, with TDH aiming to commit its first year of funding to rural health projects by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) deadline of Oct. 30, 2026.

The inaugural funding opportunity, for a Perinatal and Pediatric Behavioral Health Teleconsultation and Education Project, will support the use of technology to expand access to behavioral health education and consultation services. The initiative is designed to improve health outcomes for women, infants and children in rural communities.

Additionally, upcoming RHTP competitive grant opportunities, with release dates and application deadlines, include:

·  Perinatal and Pediatric Behavioral Health Teleconsultation and Education
     May 15 to June 15, 2026

·  Healthy Active Rural Tennessee (HART)
     May 22 to June 22, 2026

·  Healthcare Resiliency Program (HRP): Maternal Child Health
     May 29 to June 29, 2026

·  Chronic Disease Prevention
     June 5 to July 6, 2026

·  HRP: Service Line and Co-Location
    June 12 to July 13, 2026

·  Memory Care Assessment Network (MCAN)
     June 19 to July 20, 2026

·  Health Tech Innovation
     June 26 to July 27, 2026

·  HRP: Make Rural Tennessee Healthy Again (MaRTHA)
     July 3 to Aug. 3, 2026

·  County Health Council CARE Grants
     July 10 to Aug. 10, 2026

“Tennessee’s RHTP grants represent a strategic investment in the health of our rural communities,” Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. John Dunn said. “By expanding access to specialized care and supporting local providers, we are working to improve health outcomes and create sustainable solutions across the state.”

Potential RHTP applicants can sign up to receive email notifications and be informed when the department announces new project funding and grant opportunities.

CMS awarded Tennessee $206,888,882 in late 2025 through the federal RHTP grant program, a nationwide, five-year commitment of $50 billion dedicated to improving access to care, quality, and health outcomes in rural communities nationwide.

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote, and improve the health and well-being of all people in Tennessee.

Learn more on the TDH website about department programs and services, and to find location information for Tennessee’s local health departments.

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $206,888,882.11 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.