Rural Health Transformation Program

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a federal initiative created by H.R. 1, the federal reconciliation bill from 2025. The program authorizes $50 billion nationally over five years to support rural health system improvements, with funding awarded annually to states based on rural population, infrastructure, hospital need, and appliation strength.

Georgia has received an initial award of $218,862,170 in RHTP funds for its Georgia Rural Enhancement and Transformation of Health (GREAT Health) program. This funding will support 29 projects or strategies across five major initiatives focused on transitioning rural healthcare providers to a value-based care payment model.

Georgia RHTP Year 1 Spending Breakdown

See the Year 1 Budget Summary Chart

START HERE

Important Deadlines
  • The deadline to submit a signed Letter of Intent to Participate in the AHEAD Model is March 15, 2026. More information below.

  • The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce announced the launch of the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Fellowship Expansion Grant Program through Georgia's Rural Enhancement and Transformation of Health (GREAT Health) Program. The Intent to Increase Fellow count is due by March 15, and selected sites will be notified on a rolling basis beginning April 10. More information is below.

Year 1 Implementation Updates

The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) released additional information on Year 1 implementation of the GREAT Health (Georgia Rural Enhancement and Transformation of Health) Program, Georgia’s Rural Health Transformation Program.

Eligible hospitals received an email on Friday, Jan. 9, from DCH Commissioner Dean Burke with information about participating in the AHEAD (Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design) Model pre-implementation evaluations.

GBHCW GME Fellowship Expansion Grant

The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce announced the launch of the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Fellowship Expansion Grant Program through Georgia's Rural Enhancement and Transformation of Health (GREAT Health) Program. Up to 12 fellowship slots statewide are available in approved specialty areas, and each approved slot will receive $200,000 per post-graduate (PGY) year. This funding supports rural hospitals, health systems, and academic partners in expanding existing fellowship programs to increase training capacity in high-need specialties, expand fellowship opportunities in rural communities, and improve long-term physician retention in underserved areas. 

The Intent to Increase Fellow count is due by March 15, and selected sites will be notified on a rolling basis beginning April 10. 

Apply here and see more information on payment structure, use of funds, eligible fellowship subspecialties, eligible locations, and more.

Webinars and Education

GHA AHEAD Model Review Webinar

  • On Jan. 28, GHA hosted an educational program to help hospitals better understand and evaluate participation in the AHEAD (Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design) Model as part of the state’s GREAT Health Program (Georgia’s Rural Health Transformation Program). Watch the recording.

AHEAD Model Webinar

  • On Jan. 15, DCH held a webinar to provide an overview on the AHEAD (Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design) Model, a new value-based care initiative for rural areas coordinated with the state's Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) application. Watch the recording and view the presentation..

NOTE: The deadline to submit a signed Letter of Intent to participate in the pre-implementation activities for the AHEAD Model is March 15, 2026.

How Georgia plans to use the funds

Georgia’s application distributes funding to healthcare providers, state agencies, consultants, and vendors across five major initiatives.

  1. Transforming for a Sustainable Health System in Rural Georgia
  2. Strengthening the Continuum of Care in Rural Georgia
  3. Connecting to Care to Improve Healthcare Access in Rural Georgia
  4. Growing a Highly Skilled Healthcare Workforce in Rural Georgia
  5. Leveraging Technology for Healthcare Innovations in Rural Georgia