North Dakota lawmakers are preparing to open a $198.9 million program to support rural healthcare projects statewide. The announcement follows federal approval for the North Dakota Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), with state officials anticipating releasing the first round soon.
The funding comes from the $50 billion federal RHTP, which will supplement lost funding from Medicaid cuts in Congress’ budget reconciliation bill. Each state will receive a minimum of $500 million from the program, with some states receiving up to $1 billion over the next five years.
North Dakota recently received the news that its program budget was officially approved, clearing the way for the state to allocate $198.9 million in grants for Fiscal Year 2026. The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has stated that it will open applications soon after receiving budget approval, though none have yet been opened.
The opportunities are slated to be released in phases. The four funding categories included as part of the RHTP include:
- Strengthen and Stabilize Rural Health Workforce.
- Make North Dakota Healthy Again – Preventative Care, Eating Healthy.
- Bringing High Quality Care Closer to Home.
- Connecting Technology, Data and Providers for a Stronger ND.
The RHTP serves as North Dakota’s comprehensive roadmap to modernize and maintain a stable rural healthcare system and ensure all residents have access to quality healthcare. Out of the approved FY 2026 RHTP’s $198.9 million budget, the state will dedicate $116 million to expand healthcare access, $33.4 million to integrate technology, $32.2 million on workforce initiatives and $17.1 million to promote healthy lifestyles.
The initiative’s first category will work toward establishing and expanding rural residencies and training programs to achieve a stronger workforce. These measures will work toward establishing grow-your-own workforce pipelines, training providers to work at the top of their fields and provide recruitment and training grants.
As part of the state’s efforts to improve its holistic health, the state will launch the Eat Well ND and ND Moves Together programs to help enhance eating habits and provide preventative care. The program will help expand evidence-based nutrition, physical activity and behavioral health strategies. Critically, the state will also prioritize aligning care models and payment to sustain long-term health improvements.
North Dakota will work to bring quality care closer to home through the expansion of telehealth hubs, mobile clinics and remote patient monitoring. Not only will these measures help reduce reliance on a scarce physical workforce, but the program will also improve care coordination and timeliness while supporting sustainability through diversified revenue sources and optimal care delivery models.
The final category covered by the RHTP focuses on integrating cutting-edge technology to bring rural healthcare into the modern age. Supported measures will include modernizing health technology infrastructure, improving secure data sharing and supporting shared systems.
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