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Rural Health Transformation Program tracker › Mississippi

Mississippi

Rural Health Transformation Program
Program
Mississippi
First-year award
$205,907,220 (CMS)
Lead agency
Office of the Governor, Rural Health Transformation Program Office, working with the Mississippi State Department of Health
Program page
mississippirhtp.com
Contact
The program office's contact details
Where the plan names technology
Mississippi's project narrative includes a Health Technology Advancement and Modernization initiative with "Small Provider EHR Replacement Grants," a Telehealth Adoption and Provider Support initiative with "One-time funding for telehealth equipment and connectivity," and plans to "develop a comprehensive statewide Health Information Exchange network." It names AI in an "AI & Algorithmic EMS Decision Support Pilot" and says "AI tools will improve efficiency within the new regionalized EMS system."
AI named in the plan
Yes
Funding rounds
  • Upcoming Innovative Pilot Program Grant (BRIDGE initiative); $16 million, capped at $2 million per entity; opened Oct 14, 2026, deadline Nov 16, 2026; eligible: Rural and critical access hospitals, post-acute providers, clinics, behavioral health providers, EMS and first responders, community-based organizations, colleges and universities, and other entities addressing community health needs
  • Closed Workforce Expansion Initiative (RHTP-WEIFY2027-001); $16.8 million; opened Jul 15, 2026, deadline Aug 17, 2026; eligible: Rural and critical access hospitals, FQHCs, rural health clinics, public health agencies, school districts, colleges and universities, residency programs, and nonprofit health and workforce organizations that benefit rural residents
  • Closed Psychiatric Emergency Services: EmPATH Units Grant Program; total awards not to exceed $14 million in Program Year 1; opened Jul 15, 2026, deadline Aug 17, 2026; eligible: "Mississippi located hospitals meeting HRSA rural criteria or CAH designation"
  • Awarded Rural Provider Technology Grant Program (RTG); General technology awards of $200,000 to $400,000; cybersecurity awards of $100,000 to $300,000; opened Jun 15, 2026, deadline Jul 15, 2026; eligible: Mississippi hospitals, physician practices, rural health clinics, FQHCs, local health departments, tribal facilities, CCBHCs, substance use disorder facilities, dental services and long-term care facilities in or serving rural areas
  • Awarded Rural Capital Project Care Gap Closure Grant Program (RCGC); $28.5 million; individual awards of up to $3 million; opened Jun 15, 2026, deadline Jul 15, 2026; eligible: Mississippi hospitals, physician practices, rural health clinics, FQHCs, local health departments, tribal facilities and other providers in or serving rural areas
  • Awarded Telehealth Hub Connectivity, Equipment & Education Grant Program (TCE); $5.7 million; average awards of $70,000 for connectivity and equipment and $110,000 for education; opened Jun 15, 2026, deadline Jul 15, 2026; eligible: "Any Eligible Provider," including Mississippi hospitals and physician practices in or serving rural areas
Awards
  • Sept 15, 2026: $104,115,146 to 167 awards: 97 technology, 43 care gap closure and 27 telehealth. Gov. Tate Reeves announced the awards. They include $537,094 for Hattiesburg Clinic "To deploy ambient AI documentation to approximately 500 providers," $125,414 for Hattiesburg Clinic to integrate "AI enabled retinal imaging into 12 rural clinics" and $30,555 for George County Hospital to replace voicemail refill systems "with VOXO AI Pharmacy Voice Agent." Announcement
Next
The governor's office said Sept. 15 that workforce and psychiatric emergency services applications "are currently being reviewed and will be announced in the next 30 to 45 days," and that October opportunities would include help for rural providers to modernize their electronic health record systems. The Mississippi State Department of Health is taking proposals through Nov. 3, 2026 for a statewide health information exchange and health data utility. The technology, care gap and telehealth notices list both July 13 and July 15, 2026 as the deadline, and the care gap notice also says "The State is not imposing a limit on individual award amounts."
Sources: CMS, first-year awards, Mississippi RHT Program site, Governor's office, program office launch, Mississippi's project narrative, Funding opportunities, Resources, Innovative Pilot Program notice, Workforce Expansion Initiative notice, Rural Provider Technology Grant notice, Care Gap Closure Grant notice, Telehealth Hub Grant notice, Governor's office, 167 awards, Closed funding opportunities, Psychiatric Emergency Services EmPATH notice
Checked against its sources

What the money can pay for: What does the Rural Health Transformation Program pay for?.

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