Connections to Care Initiative

The Rural Health Transformation Program: Connections to Care Initiative is a state-administered grant opportunity issued by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as part of the federally funded Rural Health Transformation Program. This initiative is supported through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is designed to modernize and expand digital infrastructure across South Carolina’s rural healthcare ecosystem. The program aligns with federal and state goals to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by investing in innovation, interoperability, and technology-enabled care delivery systems that can address longstanding disparities in rural communities. The Connections to Care Initiative includes two primary project tracks for the current funding cycle: Modernize Health IT Infrastructure and Expand Remote Patient Monitoring and Assistive Technology. The Modernize Health IT Infrastructure track focuses on transitioning rural healthcare providers from outdated or paper-based systems to certified electronic health record platforms, enhancing interoperability, strengthening cybersecurity protections, and enabling advanced analytics and decision support tools. This track is intended to create a secure and integrated digital environment that supports coordinated care and efficient service delivery. The Expand Remote Patient Monitoring and Assistive Technology track focuses on deploying remote monitoring devices and assistive technologies to support patients with chronic conditions and developmental disabilities, enabling continuous care, improving outcomes, and reducing the need for in-person visits. The total anticipated funding for this opportunity is seventy-five million dollars, which will be distributed as subawards to eligible applicants. Funding ranges vary by project type. For Health IT modernization, system upgrades range from one hundred thousand dollars to two million dollars, while new or replacement systems range from five million to ten million dollars. For Remote Patient Monitoring and Assistive Technology projects, funding ranges from two hundred fifty thousand dollars to five million dollars. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Awardees must expend funds by September 30, 2027 and comply with federal requirements under 2 CFR Part 200 and 2 CFR Part 300. Allowable uses include digital infrastructure upgrades and deployment of monitoring technologies, while unallowable costs include new construction, lobbying, and duplicative clinical service payments. Eligibility for the Connections to Care Initiative includes South Carolina-based entities serving rural communities. Eligible applicants include healthcare providers such as hospitals, clinics, federally qualified health centers, emergency medical services providers, pharmacies, and providers delivering residential or community-based services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Additional eligible entities include community-based organizations with roles in health access or digital health support, local government entities and public health agencies, and nonprofit organizations focused on improving rural health outcomes. Applicants must demonstrate that proposed activities directly benefit rural residents and produce measurable impact, consistent with the Health Resources and Services Administration definition of rural. The application process requires submission of a complete application package via email as a single PDF to the SCDHHS grants inbox. Required components include a cover sheet, project summary, project narrative, budget, budget narrative, letters of support, and disclosure of settlement agreements or claims. The project narrative must include organizational background, assessment of need supported by data, scope of work with timeline, monitoring and evaluation plan, and sustainability strategy. Applications are first reviewed for completeness and then evaluated through a merit review process conducted by a panel with expertise in grants management and rural health. Evaluation criteria include narrative quality, alignment with program goals, budget justification, and feasibility. The timeline for this opportunity is clearly defined. The request for applications was posted on April 2, 2026, with questions due by April 16, 2026. Applications must be submitted by June 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and award notifications are anticipated by July 31, 2026. This initiative represents the first of anticipated annual funding cycles under South Carolina’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which is expected to continue through federal fiscal year 2030, subject to available funding and program continuation decisions.

Select one project track and align all activities to either Health IT modernization or RPM expansion. Clearly demonstrate rural impact, interoperability improvements, or patient monitoring outcomes. Provide strong data justification, detailed implementation timeline, and ensure sustainability beyond 2027.