The Rural Health Association of Tennessee has received inquiries from rural healthcare providers, media, and policymakers from across the country regarding Tennessee's implementation of the Rural Health Transformation Program.

We applaud the organizations that submitted successful applications and recognize the hard work that goes into securing competitive funding opportunities. At the same time, our preliminary review indicates that fewer than 30% of the notices of award identified to date have been made directly to hospitals and clinics.

Like the rest of Tennessee, and millions around the world, the Rural Health Association of Tennessee community is mourning the loss of Dolly Parton, who passed away August 25, 2026.

While our hearts are broken, we are also filled with gratitude. Few people have left a mark on Tennessee, rural America, and the world the way Dolly did. She was more than a signer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She was a champion for children, model of rural values, a source of joy, and a reminder that kindness and authenticity never go out of style.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Health will offer health leaders, partners, and stakeholders insight on new funding opportunities in the Tennessee Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) with an information session and overview at 10:00 a.m., Central, on Tue., March 31, 2026.

The session will provide a high-level overview of the RHTP vision and how the RHTP goals align with the state’s broader health care vision. Information on competitive funding opportunities will be outlined for interested applicants. Session participants will get information on next steps in the RHTP’s grant process, how to submit follow-up questions, and where to find more information. Registration for the RHTP information session is available online.

March 3rd, 2026, Rural Health Association of Tennessee Members met with our State Representatives and Senators to talk about the Rural Health Transformation Program, the Rural Health Safety Net, AI "Downcoding" and Certificate of Need.

A special thanks to the follow state Representatives for meeting with us:

February 12, 2026, Rural Health Association of Tennessee members from across Tennessee traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National Rural Health Association Policy Institute.

While we were there we had the opportunity to talk about rural health priorities with the following:

February 10, 2026, Rural Health Association of Tennessee staff joined Maternal Health Advocates from around the state to talk about the importance of early intervention and education for new and expecting mothers.

A special thanks to the follow state Representatives for meeting with us:

Congratulations to our 2025 Poster Contest Winners!

RHA's 11th Annual Poster Contest included submissions for the following divisions: 

Undergraduate and Masters Student

Rural Americans are more likely to be self-employed or work for small employers that do not offer insurance. More than one third (35.2 percent) of rural adult workers are not offered employer sponsored coverage, compared to 29.1 percent of urban workers. Without access to employer plans, rural residents depend heavily on the Marketplace and the affordability provided by premium tax credits.

RHA is joining forces with the National Rural Health Association and others across the nation to advocate for the support of the ACA Marketplace and the protection of enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs).

Accepting Nominations 

Modeled after the National Rural Health Association’s policy congress, the Tennessee Rural Health Policy Congress will be the policymaking body that determines the Rural Health Association of Tennessee’s (RHA) positions regarding public policy. 

The responsibilities of the members are to:

• Identify topics and provide technical expertise on the development of Association policies.
• Create, review, and approve Association policy recommendations and positions.
• Ensure the Association’s guiding principles and mission are promoted through all policies.
• Develop policy papers to communicate the Associations priorities and recommendations.

Membership

To be eligible to serve on the Policy congress, individuals must be an active member of the association and in the greater rural health community. Members should review the orientation document (below), review the attendance requirement for 2026, and complete the nomination form by Monday, January 5th.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that the State has submitted its application to access federal grant funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), which is designed to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes in rural communities nationwide.

“Tennessee has an historic opportunity to invest in and strengthen healthcare for rural communities for generations to come,” said Gov. Lee. “We know what works, because supporting at-risk and underserved Tennesseans has been a priority of my administration since day one. I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for their partnership to ensure better care, closer to home, for every Tennessean.”

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) is working hard to ensure that the federal Rural Health Transformation Program dollars made available by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted into law on July 4, 2025, are directed to rural hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as intended. 

These funds are an attempt to offset losses that rural health providers will experience associated with other health provisions in the legislation, particularly the Medicaid program. Rural Health Association of Tennessee is advocating that 90% of funds go directly to the Rural Facility types named in the CMS Request for Proposals (100% minus 10% administration).

For additional information about this program, we recommend:

• National Rural Health Association - Rural Health Transformation Program
  
• Tennessee Department of Health - Rural Health Access Page

RHA's Rural Health Transformation Recommendations

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) is accepting proposals for the following: 

Rural Health Dashboard Rebuild

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) invites proposals from qualified individuals and/or organizations to update and rebuild our Tennessee Rural Health Dashboard. The purpose of the dashboard is to answer the common question “What is rural” and serve as a comprehensive data source of rural facilities in Tennessee. We often see this dashboard referenced in presentations on rural health, grant applications, and policy papers.

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) has been awarded a grant from Tennessee Department of Health (Z-25-314278) intended to help grantees deliver integrated, high-quality, comprehensive prevention and healthcare services, and innovative care delivery models that are evidence-informed throughout rural areas in the state. These investments may include innovative projects that improve access to health and healthcare services for rural populations, and funding to support transition to alternative care models to address community need.

Scope of Work

As part of this historic opportunity, RHA is in process of closing on a building located at 159 Court Square, Huntingdon, TN. The following Request for Proposals is to seek a contractor/s for the following.

Help improve disaster planning.

Researchers at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center are conducting a study to understand how advance practice nurses, community pharmacists, and primary care physicians response to disasters. The online survey will take about 5 minutes to complete. Responses are confidential and will help to understand perceptions about disasters. To participate, you should be at least 18 years old and an advance practice nurse, community pharmacist, or primary care physician who practices in EastTennessee.

https://uthsc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3F8wwi9iQuHoAE6

Congratulations to our 2024 Poster Contest Winners!

RHA's 10th Annual Poster Contest included submissions for the following divisions:

1. Undergraduate and Masters’ Students
2. Doctoral and Professional Students (MD, DO, PA, NP, DMS, PhD, etc.)
3. Postdoctoral Trainees (Medical Residents, Fellows, etc.)
4. Faculty

Submissions are scored for Scientific Content (75%) and Virtual Poster Display (25%). Winners receive a small gift card from Rural Health Association of Tennessee.

In July of 2021, Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) received a “Notice of Award” from Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) about a funding opportunity to build strategies and best practices to reduce COVID-19 risk across the state of Tennessee in underserved and rural communities. The contract (GR-21-73441) totaling $2,468,000 was made possible by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Under this grant which concluded May 31st, 2024, RHA provided services to individuals from all 95 counties in Tennessee, sponsored education for thousands of learners, and established better supports for our School Health, Rural Hospital, Rural Health Clinic, FQHC, and Mental and Behavioral Health Members.

Click to view the Final Report

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the U.S. Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Among other things, FFCRA required state Medicaid programs keep beneficiaries enrolled through the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) in exchange for enhanced federal funding.

In preparation of the PHE ending, RHA signed a contract with the State of Tennessee, Department of Finance and Administration, Division of TennCare (TennCare) for “Advocacy and Outreach Services During the COVID-19 Unwinding Period.” This contract allowed RHA to expand upon and later sustain the work that began as part of the TDH contract.

In 2021, Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) received a contact from Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), Office of Minority Health, via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA).

The service goal of this contract was to improve the health of people in rural Tennessee by providing activities for COVID-19 advocacy, communication, and health education. As part of the strategy to provide accurate education regarding COVID-19, vaccinations, and overall population health improvement, RHA contracted with the Men’s Health Network of Tennessee (MHN) to develop and disseminate a Certified Men’s Health Educator training.

Governor Lee’s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 – 2025 budget included proposed funding for most of the Rural Health Task Force's recommendations. 

We are happy to share that the appropriations bill passed by Tennessee's 113th General Assembly. The table below outlines the approved rural health care initiatives, funding for FY 2024 – 2025. 

The 2024-2026 State Health Plan seeks to provide a pathway for achieving the Department’s vision: Healthy People, Healthy Communities, Healthy Tennessee.

Through evaluating data and engaging partners and the public to create recommendations across the four sections of the State Health Plan Framework (1. A Healthy Start; 2. A Healthy Life; 3. A Healthy Environment; 4. A Healthy System of Care), the Plan outlines how Tennesseans can work together to improve the health status of Tennesseans.

Download the Health Plan