Rural Health Transformation Program – Overcoming Geographic Barriers to Care, Mobile Healthcare Innovation
Can you apply?
This grant is for primary care and community behavioral health providers in rural Illinois seeking to improve healthcare access through mobile health infrastructure.
Eligible applicants include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, community health centers, and community behavioral health organizations operating in rural Illinois. Applicants must work through Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) or Community Behavioral Health Association (CBHA) to receive funding.
Activities supported include development and deployment of mobile primary care clinics, mobile behavioral health services, and mobile crisis response units. Funds support staffing, technology, data systems, and infrastructure for new, expanded, or substantially enhanced services. Existing services and reimbursable Medicaid activities are not eligible.
This grant is for primary care and community behavioral health providers in rural Illinois seeking to improve healthcare access through mobile health infrastructure.
Eligible applicants include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, community health centers, and community behavioral health organizations operating in rural Illinois. Applicants must work through Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) or Community Behavioral Health Association (CBHA) to receive funding.
Activities supported include development and deployment of mobile primary care clinics, mobile behavioral health services, and mobile crisis response units. Funds support staffing, technology, data systems, and infrastructure for new, expanded, or substantially enhanced services. Existing services and reimbursable Medicaid activities are not eligible.
Program description
The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program was designed to empower states to strengthen rural communities by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes through transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem.
This program will support primary care and community behavioral health providers to invest in mobile health infrastructure, staffing, technology, and data systems to deploy new and reinforce existing mobile health clinics and mobile crisis units.
All RHT applicants must complete the Euna application. Once the completed application is received and approved, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services will collaborate with each subaward to complete the grant award process.
Note: Stevens Amendment Acknowledgment
This funding opportunity 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 $193,418,216.21 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.
In many rural regions of the state, a major barrier to care is a lack of available transportation in rural areas of the state. Without dependable transit options, rural residents face delays or forego essential preventive, primary, and specialty care, exacerbating health inequities and increasing avoidable utilization of high-cost emergency services. Stakeholders identified lack of reliable, consistent transportation as one of the largest barriers to care in the rural regions of the state which affects individuals of all ages and care needs. Mobile service offerings present an opportunity to overcome geographic and transportation-related barriers to care.
Through this Non-Discretionary Funding Information (NDFI) the state has identified Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) and Community Behavioral Health Association (CBHA) as the direct recipient of this award. Mobile Health Infrastructure funds will support the development, deployment, and expansion of mobile primary care, behavioral health, and crisis response services in rural Illinois. Funds must be used for activities that are new, expanded, or substantially enhanced — not duplication of existing services or reimbursable Medicaid activities. This grant program utilizes federal CMS Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program funds. Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NDFI is up to $18 million ($9M for IPHCA and $9M for CBHA) in year 1 and up to $46 million ($23M for IPHCA and $23M for CBHA) in total across years 1 – 5, subject to continued funding and program approval. Funding in future years is subject to CMS’s continuation, review, and award of future Rural Health Transformation grant funding. The release of this NDFI does not obligate the Department to make an award. Federal Assistance Listing: 93.798. Administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 478-00-3983).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Community Health Center
- FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center)
- Rural Health Clinic
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for primary care and community behavioral health providers in rural Illinois seeking to improve healthcare access through mobile health infrastructure.
Eligible applicants include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, community health centers, and community behavioral health organizations operating in rural Illinois. Applicants must work through Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) or Community Behavioral Health Association (CBHA) to receive funding.
Activities supported include development and deployment of mobile primary care clinics, mobile behavioral health services, and mobile crisis response units. Funds support staffing, technology, data systems, and infrastructure for new, expanded, or substantially enhanced services. Existing services and reimbursable Medicaid activities are not eligible.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Euna application (required by Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services)
- Project narrative describing mobile health infrastructure and deployment plan
- Budget and budget narrative
- Evidence of organizational capacity and relevant rural health experience
- Documentation of rural service area and transportation barriers
Program contact
- 👤 Dani Mendez
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.798 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$281,319,361
-
$272,174,856
-
$233,639,308
-
$233,509,359
-
$223,476,949
-
$221,898,008
-
$218,862,170
-
$218,529,075
-
$216,276,818
-
$213,008,356
Top States by Funding
- TX 1 awards $281.3M
- AK 1 awards $272.2M
- CA 1 awards $233.6M
- MT 1 awards $233.5M
- OK 1 awards $223.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Primary care and community behavioral health providers in rural Illinois can apply. Applicants must work through IPHCA or CBHA as the direct award recipient.
What activities does this grant fund?
It supports mobile primary care clinics, mobile behavioral health services, and mobile crisis units. Funding covers infrastructure, staffing, technology, and data systems. Services must be new, expanded, or substantially enhanced.
What is the timeline and funding amount?
Year 1 provides up to $18 million total ($9M each to IPHCA and CBHA). Across years 1–5, up to $46 million total is available. Continued funding depends on federal CMS approval.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required for this grant. However, future-year funding is contingent on continued federal CMS approval.
What cannot be funded?
Duplication of existing services and reimbursable Medicaid activities are not eligible. Funds must support new or substantially enhanced services only.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Work with IPHCA or CBHA early to understand their subaward process and application requirements. This is a direct-recipient structure.
- Focus your proposal on overcoming geographic and transportation barriers to care in your rural service area. Use local data on access gaps.
- Clearly distinguish new or expanded services from existing programs. CMS requires activities that are genuinely new or substantially enhanced.
- Include detailed staffing, technology, and infrastructure plans for your mobile health deployment. Reviewers look for operational readiness.
- Plan for sustainability and demonstrate how mobile services will integrate with your existing primary care or behavioral health network.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing duplication of existing services or reimbursable Medicaid activities instead of new/enhanced offerings. Failing to clearly distinguish new mobile health initiatives from current programs. Underestimating the operational complexity of deploying and sustaining mobile clinics in rural areas.
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