The application window for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Hospital Transformation Planning Grants opened on May 19, 2026. Illinois’ 97 eligible rural hospitals have until Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM CDT to apply for this grant.

The $28,191,393 of total funding will be allocated equally among eligible hospitals. If all 97 eligible hospitals apply (see the list of eligible hospitals here), the award will be approximately $290,000 per hospital; however, eligible hospitals must apply to receive funding.

Rural Health Transformation Program Background

The RHTP was authorized under Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21 as a five-year, $50 billion national initiative to strengthen rural healthcare. Illinois received $193.4 million for Year 1, fully funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Year 1 is a planning phase. Hospitals that secure funding now will develop regionally tailored, data-driven transformation plans — the foundation for accessing significantly larger implementation funding in Years 2 through 5, where awards shift to a competitive model. Hospitals that participate in Year 1 will be best positioned to compete for over $192 million in subsequent funding.

Those applying in Years 2–5, although issued in a competitive model, will likely receive $44M–$52M annually.

Eligibility Requirements for the Hospital Transformation Planning Grants

To qualify, a hospital must meet all three criteria:

1. The hospital is licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) as an acute care hospital in Illinois.
2. The hospital is in full compliance with state and federal requirements, including GATA pre-qualification and 42 CFR § 482 (Conditions of Participation).
3. The hospital is designated as one of the following:

1. CMS-designated Critical Access Hospital (CAH), or meets minimum inpatient discharge thresholds per the methodology in Appendix A of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
2. Long-term acute care, rehabilitation, psychiatric, and children’s hospitals are not eligible as lead applicants but may participate as partners.

Key Dates to Be Aware Of for the Hospital Transformation Planning Grants

• Application Window Opened Tuesday, May 19, 2026
• GATA Pre-Qualification Deadline is Monday, June 1, 2026 – All Hospital applicants should meet pre-qualification requirements.  This deadline does not prohibit an applicant from applying.
• Virtual town hall on Wednesday, June 10 from 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM CDT to share updates on the RHTP Hospital Planning Grants. This town hall is intended for hospitals that meet the grant eligibility criteria.
• Question Submission Closes Wednesday, June 10, 2026
• Application Deadline is Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 4:00 PM CDT
• Award Announcement is Friday, June 26, 2026
• Award Period Begins Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Applications must be submitted through the Euna (AmpliFund) platform.

Important Note: The Primary Contact listed on the application must be the individual who submits the grant request, so it is important to ensure the primary contact has access to the system now.

What Makes a Strong Application for the Hospital Transformation Planning Grant

Although Year 1 grants are planning grants, the AmpliFund listing describes the award type as “Competitive.”

Evaluators will review for completeness and missing elements will disqualify your application.

Other tips for a strong application include:

• Connecting your narrative to the program’s core goals of transforming rural healthcare delivery, overcoming geographic barriers, and/or building a resilient workforce.
• Ensuring that all costs are justified, allocable, and compliant with 2 CFR 200. Make sure to include your Indirect Cost Questionnaire (ICQ) and document your indirect cost methodology clearly.
• Addressing all required components in the NOFO. This includes community needs assessments, stakeholder partnership plans, and infrastructure development strategies.

Additionally, we recommend:

1. Focus on community health data, discharge patterns, and workforce analytics.
2. Name all Federally Qualified Health Centers, EMS providers, behavioral health organizations, and local public health departments that you work with, and describe how you will collaborate with them.
3. Frame your narrative around other key topics, such as preventive and chronic care expansion, sustainable access, workforce development, innovative care and payment models, and technology adoption.
4. Signal a credible path from planning to implementation in Years 2–5.
5. The program highlights central, southern, and eastern Illinois. If you serve these communities, indicate that in your grant submission.
6. Funded hospitals must submit periodic financial and programmatic reports under 2 CFR 200. Build compliance infrastructure into your plan from the start.

How Blue & Co. Can Help

With a compressed timeline and multi-year strategic implications, this is not a grant that should be submitted at the final hour.

Our healthcare consulting team can support you with:

• GATA pre-qualification verification and remediation
• Application narrative development
• Budget preparation and indirect cost documentation
• Community needs assessment support using proven data sources and frameworks
• Post-award compliance planning to protect your funding and position you for Years 2–5

To discuss how Blue and Co. can support your application, contact your Blue and Co. advisor or our healthcare consulting team today.