Key insights
- If you receive RHTP funding, expect ongoing federal compliance and reporting responsibilities throughout the five-year grant lifecycle.
- Start early by reviewing your state’s RHTP plan, monitoring funding opportunities, preparing tailored applications, and keeping SAM.gov and state registrations active.
- After an award, build a grants management program with clear policies, internal controls, grant accounting, documentation, reporting, and closeout procedures.
- Track total federal award spending because reaching $1 million in a fiscal year triggers a federal single audit that includes RHTP funds.
Protect your RHTP funding with smarter grants management.
Billions of dollars are beginning to flow from states to health care organizations under the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). If you’re one of the recipients, you likely know these funds come with compliance and reporting requirements. Are your teams ready?
Preparing early to put Rural Health Transformation Program funding to work can help protect your award, support accurate reporting, and avoid preventable compliance problems.
What RHTP grants management involves
The RHTP directs $50 billion in federal funding to states over five years to support rural health initiatives. States are building program infrastructure, creating advisory committees, setting priorities, opening grant opportunities, and distributing awards.
Dive deeper to learn what RHTP is, who’s eligible, where states are now, and how to get grant-ready fast.
RHTP requires robust reporting and compliance for states and grantees. A clear grants management approach can help your team stay accountable from application through closeout.
Grants management covers the work leading up to applying — the pre-award period — through to receiving an award, the post-award period. The post award period includes grant policies, internal controls, accounting, documentation, monitoring, and reporting used throughout the grant lifecycle. Building these practices early helps your organization use funds as intended, meet federal and state requirements, respond to reviews or audits, and keep projects moving.
How to prepare when applying for an RHTP grant
Early preparation centers on understanding how RHPT funding will operate in your state and what each application will require. Key first steps include:
Lessons learned from federal pandemic programs like Provider Relief Fund
Think back a few years to the pandemic. Hundreds of billions of dollars flowed from the federal government to states and to providers through COVID-19 relief programs like the Provider Relief Fund.
All funds were new programs, meaning policies and requirements were being created and revised regularly by the federal government. What lessons can PRF give RHTP award recipients?
- Start your compliance efforts early and maintain them throughout the program’s lifecycle
- Document everything — what you do with the funds, how you’re spending them and why
- Maintain all invoices and records for RHTP in one easy-to-access location whenever possible
- Keep track of important grant-specific metrics as you go, since recreating them later may not be possible or will be time consuming
- Remember there is no “free” federal money; these dollars come with additional administrative requirements in the form of compliance, reporting, and single audits.
- Review your state's federal RHTP application. These submissions reveal how each state intends to deploy funding over the five-year period.
- Monitor for funding opportunities. Track relevant state agency websites for announcements and updates.
- Prepare competitive applications. When opportunities open, review requirements in detail and develop tailored, compelling narratives aligned to stated criteria.
- Confirm active registrations. Many states require an active System for Award Management (SAM.gov) registration for RHTP, in addition to state-specific portal enrollment.
Grants management considerations after receiving RHTP funding
Receiving an award marks the beginning of the grant lifecycle, not the end. Sustained compliance under the federal Uniform Guidance requires an active grants management program spanning policy design, post-award administration, and reporting. Key elements include:
- Policies and procedures. Develop federal grants management policies supporting compliance with the RHTP award.
- Compliance tools and templates. Establish resources reinforcing strong internal controls, compliant procurement, and sound financial management practices addressing allowability, allocability, and cost documentation.
- Grant accounting. Track expenditures with proper documentation and budget-to-actual reporting.
- Reporting. Prepare required financial and programmatic reports, including state-specific grant reporting.
- Closeout. Execute proper grant closeout procedures.
- Single audit. Entities expending $1 million or more in federal awards in a fiscal year must undergo a federal single audit, which includes RHTP funds.
How CLA can help with every stage of grant funding
RHTP funding can stretch already-busy teams across grant requirements, financial reporting, compliance, and program delivery. CLA can provide support where you need it, helping your organization:
- Find relevant opportunities
- Develop stronger applications
- Complete required registrations
- Track grant funds accurately
- Manage the grant lifecycle
- Meet compliance and reporting requirements
- Expand finance capacity
- Prepare for a single audit
RHTP funds may also support broader operational improvements. CLA’s digital, cybersecurity, finance, and consulting services can help you strengthen data security, modernize systems, improve financial visibility, and build processes that support program delivery.
For state and local governments administering RHTP programs, this coordinated support can also help establish practical oversight and reporting structures for distributing and monitoring funds.
Contact us
Protect your RHTP funding with smarter grants management. Complete the form below to connect with CLA.