Kansas
$222M first-year CMS award (FY2026)Kansas was awarded $221.89M for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Program — the 6th largest award in the country. The state's plan, led by KDHE and KDADS with the Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance and the UKHS Care Collaborative, is built around 5 CMS priorities and 24 programs spanning sustainable access, workforce, innovative care, technology, and prevention.
Here's what Kansas is building — and where Beam fits.
How Kansas Is Allocating the Money
A full funding split was not verified. The official state program has the latest plan and notices.
$222M
first-year CMS award (FY2026)
5
Initiatives
3
Beam fits
Expand Primary and Secondary Prevention Programs
Funding split not published
Six programs to reduce chronic disease in rural Kansas — Food is Medicine + CHWs, consumer-facing tech, behavioral health services, integrated care for dual eligibles, mobile cancer screening, and Tribal programs.
▸6 programs
- Accountable Food is Medicine + Community Health Worker Deployment Program
- Consumer-Facing Technologies Program
- Behavioral Health Services Program (BHI in Primary Care; BH in Nursing Facilities; ED Behavioral Health Intervention Hubs; Pediatric Psychiatric Access; Statewide SUD Referral & Stabilization Network)
- Integrated Care for Dual Eligible Beneficiaries Program (PACE expansion + Care Collaborative care management)
- Mobile Cancer Screening Program
- Tribal Programs (KATCH-led projects across 3 Section 638 clinics)
Secure Local Access to Primary Care
Funding split not published
Six programs to stabilize rural hospital finances and access — Regional Partnerships grants, REH conversion grants, revenue improvement, the Anchor Hospital Advancement Program, mobile integrated health, and primary care–public health integration.
▸6 programs
- Regional Partnerships Grant Program
- REH Conversion / Transformative Capital Investment Grant Program
- Revenue Improvement Program (commercial rate analysis; revenue cycle + credentialing entity; direct-to-employer contracting)
- Anchor Hospital Advancement Program (analytics, EHR optimization, managed care advisory, on-demand operational resources)
- Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) Pilot Program
- Rural Primary Care – Public Health Integration Pathways Program
Build a Sustainable Rural Workforce
Funding split not published
Four programs to grow and retain rural clinicians — Physician Pipeline (5 residency tracks + Kansas Bridging Plan), Education and Training (scholarships + mobile sim lab), Recruitment and Retention, and K-12 Career Exploration.
▸4 programs
- Physician Pipeline Program (Rural Residencies in 5 tracks; Kansas Bridging Plan expansion; Medical Student Rural Rotation Housing)
- Education and Training Program (Health Professions Service Scholarships; Training Grants; Dental Scholarship; Mobile Simulation Lab)
- Recruitment and Retention Program (Work in Rural Kansas campaign; Rural Nurse Residencies; Clinical Instructor incentives; Behavioral Health Apprenticeship)
- Career Exploration Program (Rural HOSA chapters; K-12 Health Science CTE; Pre-apprenticeship; Regional Career Expos)
Enable Value-Based Care
Funding split not published
Four programs to move rural Kansas to accountable care by 2031 — Evidence-Based Practice incentive payments, ACO Readiness (shadow ACO), Transportation (5 projects including BH crisis transport), and Medicaid Provider Incentive Payments.
▸4 programs
- Evidence-Based Practice Incentive Program (quarterly incentives up to $50K/hospital, $25K/clinic for hard-wiring evidence-based practices)
- ACO Readiness Program (shadow ACO operated by Care Collaborative for providers not yet in MSSP/ACO REACH)
- Transportation Program (Interfacility Transport Teams; BH Crisis Transport; Non-Emergency 911; EMS Treat-In-Place; Non-Emergency Transport Grants)
- Medicaid Provider Incentive Payment Program (TMaH-aligned VBP, MCO contract incentives for rural providers)
Harness Data and Technology
Funding split not published
Four programs for rural data and tech — Remote Patient Monitoring (AI-powered command center), Telehealth Navigators embedded in primary care, Data Infrastructure (APCD, HIE, data trust), and Emerging Technology grants and TA.
▸4 programs
- Remote Patient Monitoring Program (FDA-cleared wearables, AI-powered command center for early deterioration detection)
- Telehealth Navigator Program (nurse navigators embedded in primary care to operate specialist telehealth clinics)
- Data Infrastructure Program (All Payer Claims Database; HIE Connectivity; Diabetes Data Dock; CCBHC Data Center; Kansas Data Trust)
- Emerging Technology Program (expert panel evaluation, implementation funding, and TA for patient-facing tech)
A full funding split has not been verified. Amounts are not shown.
Source: Kansas RHTP Project Narrative submitted to CMS (KDHE)
Where Kansas Is in the Process
Dec. 29, 2025
CMS announces first-year RHTP funding for all 50 states. This is a national milestone, not a state-specific implementation update.
Official sourceIncludes the approved project narrative, budget documents, fact sheet, and FAQs.
Local Champions in Kansas
RHTP is administered at the state level, with active involvement from federal legislators, state agencies, and regional health institutions.
Gov. Laura Kelly
Governor of Kansas
Announced Kansas's $221.89M RHTP award and the public face of the state's rural health transformation work.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
State RHTP Lead Agency
Lead agency for Kansas's Rural Health Transformation Plan. Coordinates with the Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance and partners across the state to distribute funds in alignment with the approved program framework.
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)
Co-Governance Partner
Co-leads governance and operations alongside KDHE under the framework set by HB 2555.
Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance
Statewide Rural Health Coordinating Body
Statewide partner coordinating rural provider engagement, program design input, and stakeholder alignment for RHTP implementation.
UKHS Care Collaborative
Implementation and Grant Support Partner
Joint venture between Ascension Via Christi and the University of Kansas Health System. Facilitates initial Anchor Hospital Advancement Program work and provides grant assistance and on-the-ground support to providers.
Kansas Hospital Association
Hospital Advocacy Organization
Represents Kansas hospitals and supports rural facilities — including the 10 named anchor hospitals — in understanding RHTP opportunities and participation requirements.
Anchor Hospitals (10 named)
Regional Specialty Care Anchors
Citizens Medical Center (Colby), Salina Regional Health Center, HaysMed, Ascension Via Christi (Manhattan), Great Bend TUKHS, St. Catherine Hospital (Garden City), Newman Regional Health (Emporia), Labette Health (Parsons), Southwest Medical Center (Liberal), and Hutchinson Regional Medical Center — committed to regional service under the Anchor Hospital Advancement Program.
Kansas Rural Health Association
KRHIA Appointee — Rural Provider Voice
Statewide rural health membership organization. Appointed to the Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance to advance rural provider and community interests in RHTP design and implementation.
Community Care Network of Kansas
KRHIA Appointee — Safety-Net Clinics
Statewide network of FQHCs, RHCs, and other safety-net clinics. KRHIA appointee shaping access and primary care components of the plan.
Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas
KRHIA Appointee — Behavioral Health
Represents Kansas CMHCs. KRHIA appointee central to the behavioral health integration sub-projects under Initiative 1.
Kansas Medical Society, Academy of Family Physicians, and AAP Chapter
KRHIA Appointees — Clinical Societies
The state's physician societies — KMS, KAFP, and the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics — appointed to KRHIA to inform workforce, care delivery, and clinical program design.
Kansas Health Institute
KRHIA Appointee — Policy Research
Nonpartisan health policy and research organization. KRHIA appointee supporting evidence-based program design and evaluation.
LeadingAge Kansas and Kansas Health Care Association
KRHIA Appointees — Aging & Long-Term Care
Represent Kansas's nursing facility and long-term care providers. KRHIA appointees informing post-acute and aging-services components of RHTP.
Source: Governor Kelly's KRHIA appointment announcement (Oct. 3, 2025)
Where Beam Fits Into Kansas's Plan
Kansas is investing in 10 anchor hospitals, regional partnerships, remote patient monitoring across 5 high-need specialties (OB/GYN, Behavioral Health, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Psychiatry, Orthopedics), behavioral health integration in up to 70 primary care practices, and pediatric psychiatric access support for PCPs. Beam fits as a shared specialist layer for anchor hospitals, CAHs, REHs, RHCs, and rural FQHCs — curbside, eConsult, and telemedicine that supports the Anchor Hospital Advancement Program and behavioral health access work, with reportable outcomes for the Evidence-Based Practice Program. This does not imply Kansas has selected Beam or that funding is guaranteed.
Initiative 2 — Secure Local Access to Primary Care
Six programs to stabilize rural hospital finances and access — Regional Partnerships grants, REH conversion grants, revenue improvement, the Anchor Hospital Advancement Program, mobile integrated health, and primary care–public health integration.
Initiative 3 — Build a Sustainable Rural Workforce
Four programs to grow and retain rural clinicians — Physician Pipeline (5 residency tracks + Kansas Bridging Plan), Education and Training (scholarships + mobile sim lab), Recruitment and Retention, and K-12 Career Exploration.
Initiative 5 — Harness Data and Technology
Four programs for rural data and tech — Remote Patient Monitoring (AI-powered command center), Telehealth Navigators embedded in primary care, Data Infrastructure (APCD, HIE, data trust), and Emerging Technology grants and TA.
Outcomes data and CMS reporting — every Beam interaction generates reportable metrics your program needs.
White-label deployment — Beam runs under your brand, integrated into existing clinical workflows.
If your network is evaluating partners for these initiatives — or if you're a rural hospital trying to understand how to qualify — that's the conversation we want to have.
Working on Kansas's RHTP program?
Ready to discuss strategy or need help with grant application?