Read sections 1 to 3 together. Then split: nursing leaders take section 4, finance leaders take section 5, and both complete the worksheet in section 6.

1. RHTP at a glance

• $50 billion over fiscal years 2026 to 2030, with $10 billion available each year.
• All 50 states received first-year awards, averaging about $200 million.
• Funds flow through states. Providers reach funding through state grants, RFPs, and subawards.
• Common priorities: access to care, workforce, technology modernization, and sustainable care models.
• Accountability: states report progress to CMS, and those reports inform future awards.

2. How the money reaches you

CMS awards funds to the state. The state designs its program and selects subrecipients. Subrecipients carry out funded projects, often with technology and implementation partners.

Five steps to find your pathway

1. Find your state's RHTP program page and bookmark it.
2. Identify which agency runs the program. It is often Medicaid or a rural health office.
3. Learn how subrecipients are being selected: open RFPs, closed applications, or invited partners.
4. Contact the program office and ask what's next for organizations like yours.
5. Connect with partners who may lead a project you could join, such as hub hospitals, regional networks, and associations.

3. Dates to know

1. October 30, 2026States obligate Year 1 fundsSubaward and grant decisions are being finalized.
2. October 31, 2026CMS expected to set Year 2 award amountsNext-year priorities and state plans may shift.
3. September 30, 2027Many subrecipients expected to have spent Year 1 fundsBuild your timeline backward from this date. Confirm your state's terms.
4. Through fiscal year 2030The program continuesPlan for sustainability, not just launch.

4. For the CNO: build the clinical case

Define the problem specifically

Check where capacity is thinnest

• Observation coverage on nights or weekends
• Specialty or behavioral health access when no specialist is onsite
• Admission, discharge, and transfer support
• Medication verification and second sign-off

Consider adoption early

• Who will use it every shift, including new and temporary staff?
• What training time is realistic?
• Does it complement existing workflows or require new ones?

Questions to answer before you apply or sign

1. Where does our workforce stretch thinnest?
2. Which workflows could we extend without adding to the bedside burden?
3. How will staff adopt it?
4. Who owns this project clinically?

5. For the CFO: build the financial case

Align to the funded initiative

Confirm what your state allows and what its priorities are. Don't assume a cost is eligible.

Think beyond the award

• What are the ongoing costs after grant funds end?
• How will the organization sustain the program?

Plan for reporting and compliance

States report to CMS, so ask what outcomes you'll need to report and how you'll capture them from day one. Subawards typically carry federal and state requirements, and vendors may need to meet them. Confirm with your state and involve procurement early.

Match the timeline

Can the project be deployed, in use, and spent within your state's window?

Questions to answer

1. What happens to ongoing costs after the grant period?
2. What outcomes will we report, and can we measure them from day one?
3. Does the spending timeline match how fast we can realistically deploy?
4. Which procurement and compliance steps apply?

6. Shared worksheet

Complete this together. Print the page to fill it in by hand.

7. Technology evaluation checklist

Ask any technology partner:

• Does it work with our existing internet connectivity?
• Does it require major IT infrastructure?
• Is it EHR-independent, with integration options?
• Is it NDAA compliant, and how is data hosted?
• Can we deploy in different room types and settings?
• How much training do our staff need, and how will new staff learn it?
• Can we start with one unit and scale?
• What support and implementation help is included?

8. From pilot to scale

1. Define the use case and the unit. Start narrow.
2. Set outcome measures before launch.
3. Pilot with a small group, then gather staff feedback.
4. Review results, then expand across units or facilities at your own pace.

9. Where VIDICI® fits

VIDICI is not the RHTP initiative. It can be the technology that supports a funded care model. It supports virtual nursing, observation, specialist and behavioral health consultations, pediatric specialty access, family participation, and clinical collaboration such as medication verification.

Built for rural settings

• Works with existing internet connectivity
• No major IT infrastructure required
• EHR-independent, with integration options available
• NDAA compliant and cloud hosted
• Three deployment options: mobile powered cart, wall-mounted system, or in-room TV integration

Use cases that align to common state priorities

Hub-and-spoke care, behavioral health access, pediatric specialty access, and school-based programs.

10. Resources

• NRHA Rural Health Transformation Program page
• Medicaid.gov RHTP resources
• Rural Health Information Hub guides
• KFF: A closer look at the RHTP

Funding eligibility and allowable uses are determined by each state and CMS. Altus does not guarantee funding. Information reflects public sources as of October 2026 and may change. Confirm requirements with your state's RHTP program. VIDICI® is a registered trademark of Altus Industries II, Inc.