RHTP Rural and Satellite Clinics Grant Program

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration administers the Rural Health Transformation Program as part of a federally funded initiative supported through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This program represents a five year investment in improving healthcare access, infrastructure, and outcomes across rural areas in Florida. The Rural and Satellite Clinics initiative is one of several standalone funding opportunities under this broader program and focuses specifically on expanding access to primary and preventive care services in underserved rural communities. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the startup and early operational phases of new rural clinics or the expansion of existing providers into rural areas through satellite sites. The initiative aims to address persistent gaps in access to care across Florida’s 31 rural counties by providing capital for facility setup, workforce recruitment, and health information technology integration. It aligns with statewide goals to increase the percentage of rural residents with a regular source of care, reduce preventable hospitalizations, and improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Funding supports a defined scope of allowable activities including clinic startup costs, workforce recruitment and training, health information technology systems such as electronic health records and telehealth platforms, care coordination systems, and quality monitoring infrastructure. Limited minor renovations are permitted with prior federal approval, but new construction and major structural changes are prohibited. Administrative costs are capped, and all expenditures must align with federal cost principles. Funding is designed to be time limited, with an expectation that clinics transition to sustainable revenue sources by the end of the approved cohort period. Eligible applicants include a wide range of healthcare providers and organizations capable of delivering primary care services in rural areas. These include rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, critical access hospitals, county health departments, physician groups, behavioral health providers, dental practices, educational institutions with clinical programs, and managed care organizations. Applicants must demonstrate at least five years of operational experience, financial stability, and the ability to deliver services in eligible rural locations. All proposed clinic sites must meet strict licensing, infrastructure, and compliance requirements. Applications must be submitted electronically and include a structured set of required components such as an executive summary, organizational capacity documentation, detailed project narrative, partnership agreements, implementation timeline, data and quality plans, sustainability strategy, and a comprehensive budget. The application process includes a mandatory compliance review followed by a technical evaluation based on criteria such as program design, rural impact, feasibility, and financial planning. Formal partnerships with hospitals or health systems and integration with statewide health information infrastructure are required. The application deadline is June 10, 2026, with anticipated awards issued in July 2026 and project implementation beginning August 1, 2026 or upon execution. Year one funding supports activities through July 30, 2027, with continuation funding contingent on performance, reporting compliance, and federal approval. The broader program operates through a multi year cohort structure with defined startup and maintenance phases. While this specific funding cycle is not explicitly described as recurring, it is part of a multi year federal initiative with multiple cohorts and funding periods.

Strong applications clearly demonstrate rural need, include verified rural site eligibility, provide detailed staffing and implementation timelines, and show a credible sustainability plan with payer revenue and partnerships; failure to meet compliance requirements results in disqualification