Alaska Rural Health Transformation Program LOI Portal Opens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Shirley Sakaye, DOH, 907-269-4996, Shirley.Sakaye@alaska.gov Letter of Interest Portal Opens for Alaska’s Rural Health Transformation Program February 18, 2026, ANCHORAGE, AK — The Alaska Department of Health (DOH) announced that the first Letter of Interest (LOI) registration period for Alaska’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is now open. The LOI gives organizations a chance to briefly describe their ideas for improving rural health care in Alaska. Organizations may submit an LOI through March 11, 2026. Alaska’s RHTP is part of a $50 billion national initiative authorized by Congress in 2025 to strengthen rural health systems over the next five years. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded Alaska one of the largest allocations in the nation. The year one award was $272,174,856, pending approval of a revised budget, to support investments that improve access to care, strengthen the health care workforce, modernize care delivery systems, and promote long-term sustainability across Alaska’s health system. DOH has contracted with the Alaska Community Foundation (ACF) to administer the application and award process for organizations and entities seeking RHTP funding. ACF will manage the application portal, support organizations throughout the submission process, distribute approved funds, and provide administrative support over the life of the program. How to Submit a Letter of Interest Organizations interested in applying for funding must begin by registering and submitting a Letter of Interest (LOI) through ACF’s online portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Opportunity/Catalog?urlkey=alaska

The LOI process allows DOH to understand proposed project ideas, assess organizational readiness, and determine which funding pathway may be the best fit. All applicants should use the same LOI portal. Submitting an LOI is the required first step for organizations to pursue RHTP projects in this initial funding opportunity. Additional LOI periods will occur in the future, providing additional opportunities for funding. RHTP Office Hours and Technical Assistance To support applicants, DOH and ACF will host RHTP Office Hours webinars to provide technical assistance related to registration and submission in the LOI portal. Upcoming Office Hours webinars will be held: • February 24, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. • March 3, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. Organizations may register for the Applicant Office Hours series at this link. Applicants are encouraged to sign up for RHTP updates to receive information about webinars, timelines, and program guidance:https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/AKDHSS/signup/48430 Statewide Vision Alaska’s RHTP is designed as a long-term, system-level investment to strengthen access to care in rural, remote, and frontier communities while reinforcing the stability of the statewide health system. Projects must align with Alaska’s six proposed initiatives, which focus on: • Maternal and child health • Expanding access to essential services closer to home • Promoting healthy communities and preventative care • Advancing value-based care and fiscal sustainability • Strengthening the health care workforce • Modernizing technology infrastructure Funding awards are expected to begin in Spring 2026, following review and approval processes. For program questions, please contact: RHTP@alaska.gov

**This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $272,174,855.72, pending approval of revised budget, with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government. # # #*