Rural Community Health Integration2026

The Rural Community Health Integration initiative is part of the New York State Rural Health Transformation Program administered by the New York State Department of Health. This program is funded through a federal award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The initiative is designed to support rural communities across New York State by improving access to care, enhancing care coordination, and strengthening health system sustainability. The broader program reflects a statewide strategy to transform rural healthcare delivery through partnerships, innovation, and infrastructure investment. The primary purpose of the Rural Community Health Integration funding opportunity is to establish coordinated rural health partnerships that improve patient access to a comprehensive range of providers across the care continuum. The initiative emphasizes addressing both clinical and social determinants of health. Applicants are expected to build or expand integrated health networks that enhance care coordination, reduce preventable hospital utilization, and improve patient outcomes. Key focus areas include increasing access to appropriate care, reducing hospital readmissions, and expanding preventive services such as colorectal screening. Funding for this initiative is structured across planning and implementation activities within Budget Period 1. Each eligible county may receive up to five hundred thousand dollars for planning activities, which include community engagement, needs assessments, feasibility studies, governance development, and partnership building. In addition, applicants may request up to three million dollars in total for implementation projects that must be completed within the contract period. The total program funding allocated for this initiative in Budget Period 1 is seventy six million one hundred ninety thousand twenty two dollars. Funds are distributed on a cost reimbursement basis tied to the completion of defined deliverables. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a collaborative approach and include a lead applicant, partner organizations, and at least one hospital located in an eligible rural county. Lead applicants must be not for profit organizations with federal tax exempt status or municipal hospitals with a demonstrated history of regulatory compliance. A wide range of healthcare and community based entities may participate, including hospitals, federally qualified health centers, behavioral health providers, long term care organizations, and emergency medical services providers. Applications must focus on at least one of the program’s key performance areas and demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned with program goals. The application process requires submission of a complete application package including a cover sheet, eligibility attestation, and a detailed project narrative outlining planning or implementation activities. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to the Department of Health. Questions regarding the opportunity were due in June 2026, with responses posted publicly. Applications are due by July 14, 2026 at four oclock eastern time. Contracts for awarded projects will begin on September 1, 2026 and end on June 30, 2027, with execution required by October 30, 2026. Evaluation of applications is based on eligibility, the strength of the proposed partnerships, alignment with program goals, and the feasibility and sustainability of proposed activities. Applicants must demonstrate how their projects will improve access, quality, financial sustainability, workforce capacity, and technology integration in rural healthcare systems. Priority is given to projects addressing maternal health, behavioral health integration, and substance use disorder prevention. Awardees are also expected to participate in statewide learning collaboratives and provide regular reporting on progress and outcomes throughout the project period.

Focus on strong partnerships include measurable outcomes align with priority areas such as maternal health behavioral health and substance use and demonstrate sustainability beyond funding period