Telehealth Centers of Excellence

The Telehealth Centers of Excellence program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA focuses on improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. This funding opportunity continues HRSA’s investment in advancing telehealth as a critical mechanism for expanding care delivery, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The program is structured as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial federal involvement in program implementation and oversight. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to support academic medical centers in implementing, evaluating, and scaling innovative telehealth solutions. These centers are expected to function as national models by developing, testing, and disseminating effective telehealth practices that improve access to care and health outcomes. Projects funded under this program are intended not only to demonstrate success locally but also to generate replicable approaches that can be adopted across the United States. Emphasis is placed on innovation, evaluation, and national impact. Funding under this program is substantial, with a total estimated program funding amount of 8,500,000 dollars and two expected awards of 4,250,000 dollars each. Funds are intended to support programmatic activities including implementation of telehealth systems, evaluation of outcomes, and dissemination of best practices. While specific allowable cost categories are not detailed in the provided information, the cooperative agreement structure implies that funds will support both operational and research-oriented activities aligned with telehealth advancement. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity. Eligibility for this program is highly restricted. Only public and state-controlled institutions of higher education are eligible to apply, and eligibility is further limited to the two current Telehealth Centers of Excellence award recipients. This indicates that the opportunity is effectively a continuation or renewal mechanism rather than an open competition. Applicants must therefore already be established participants in the existing program and demonstrate continued capacity to fulfill the program’s objectives. The application process is expected to be conducted electronically through standard federal submission systems, with applications due by July 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The opportunity is currently forecasted, with an estimated posting date of June 2, 2026. Applicants should prepare to submit comprehensive proposals that align with HRSA’s expectations for innovation, evaluation, and national dissemination. While specific application components are not listed, typical federal cooperative agreements require detailed narratives, budgets, and evaluation plans. The anticipated timeline for this opportunity includes an estimated award date of August 3, 2026 and a project start date of September 1, 2026. This relatively rapid turnaround between application submission and award indicates a streamlined review process, likely due to the limited applicant pool. There is no indication that this opportunity is recurring, suggesting it may be tied to a specific funding cycle or program continuation. For additional information, applicants may contact Tracy Tendo at HRSA via phone at (240) 706-3460 or by email at TTendo@hrsa.gov. As a forecasted opportunity, further details are expected to be released upon official posting. Organizations that are eligible should monitor updates closely and prepare required documentation in advance to meet the anticipated submission deadline.