Montana RHTP: $239.7 Million Award for Rural Care
Governor Greg Gianforte and health officials announced a Year 2 federal allocation that ranks third in size among all states.
By Lucas Sheridan ·
Montana has received a $239.7 million federal award to sustain and expand rural healthcare services.
The funding comes from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a federal initiative managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Dr. Douglas Harrington made the official announcement on Monday, November 9. This award represents the third-highest total amount and the third-largest year-over-year increase among the fifty states.
The state first received RHTP funding in 2025. During that initial period, Montana directed resources toward upgrading rural ambulances and purchasing emergency medical services equipment. Officials stated that the state's effective use of the first-year funds contributed to securing a larger allocation for the current cycle.
Gianforte emphasized the need for local access to medical care. "Montanans should be able to get quality health care without leaving the communities they call home," he said. The governor noted that the new investment builds on partnerships formed in the first year to strengthen emergency services and support the rural healthcare workforce.
Dr. Harrington attributed the increased award to the state's first-year performance and its detailed plan for the second year. "The increased award reflects our first-year performance, a clear plan for year two, and the hard work of Montana’s RHTP team," he said. He added that the first year focused on building partnerships and committing funds to support long-term improvements.
The state's plan for Year 2 includes launching a Center of Excellence and rolling out grants for Electronic Health Record modernization. Additional priorities involve expanding tribal healthcare services and partnering with state education entities to improve workforce retention. Harrington said the state will use the funds to help rural facilities strengthen operations and modernize health records.
The award supports the continuation of the program framework established in the previous year. The state intends to use the funds to expand access to care in rural and tribal communities while maintaining the infrastructure built during the first phase of the RHTP.
