All States/Colorado

Colorado

Planning

Infrastructure & Tech

FY26 Award
$/Rural Resident
$248
Rank
26th /50
Rural Pop.

Data:CMS·Census

Funding Breakdown

Baseline
Workload
Baseline: $100.0M
Workload: $100.1M

Source: CMS award methodology

Initiatives by CMS Goal Bucket

Access to Care
Telehealth and Mobile Health Expansion

Expand telehealth and mobile health services to improve care access across Colorado's rural and frontier communities.

Innovative Care Models

Develop and implement innovative care delivery models tailored to the unique needs of rural Colorado populations.

Workforce Development
Workforce Recruitment and Retention

Recruit and keep local providers including physicians, nurses, paramedics, and behavioral health professionals through streamlined credentialing, cross-training, and education partnerships.

Financial Sustainability
Community Partnerships for Sustainability

Build community partnerships to sustain healthcare delivery and improve financial viability of rural providers.

Quality & Health Outcomes
Chronic Disease Prevention

Implement chronic disease prevention and management programs to reduce disease burden in rural communities.

Infrastructure & Technology
Health Technology Infrastructure

Deploy health technology infrastructure to enable telehealth, data sharing, and modernized care delivery.

Source: CMS state abstracts

How to Participate in Colorado

Steps for healthcare organizations to access RHTP funding through Colorado's programs.

Lead State Agency
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF)
Visit agency website
Identify Your Role
Determine if your organization is eligible: hospitals, clinics, community health centers, health plans, and other rural healthcare providers can participate through state sub-awards.
Review State Plans
Read your state's RHTP application and initiative plans to understand which programs align with your organization's services and needs.
Engage With Your State Agency
Contact the lead state agency managing RHTP implementation. Attend stakeholder sessions and register for procurement notifications.
Respond to RFPs
When your state releases Requests for Proposals for RHTP sub-awards, submit applications aligned with the CMS goal buckets your state prioritizes.
Prepare for Compliance
Set up systems for quarterly reporting, outcome metric tracking, and financial audits required by CMS. Organizations receiving $750K+ need single audit capability.

Note: RHTP funds flow from CMS to state agencies, which then distribute to providers through sub-awards and contracts. Direct federal applications are not accepted — participation is through your state's program.

Where to watch for Colorado RFPs

RHTP funding flows through multiple systems. Watch all of these to avoid missing postings — statewide procurement portals, health-agency grants pages, and program landing pages.

Colorado State Purchasing & Contracts Office
Primary statewide procurement portal. HCPF posts solicitations here.
Colorado Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing
Authoritative RHTP page — program updates, Advisory Committee materials, applicant FAQs. RFA in development as of April 2026.
Colorado Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing
HCPF grant opportunities. Monitor alongside VSS since RHTP funds may flow via RFA (grant) rather than procurement RFP.
State of Colorado
Secondary search surface that mirrors VSS postings.
BidNet Direct
450+ Colorado local governments, counties, public health districts. Relevant if RHTP subawards flow through local agencies.

Colorado program contacts

Lead agency contacts, RHTP program staff, and advisory committee members. Reach out to ask about upcoming RFPs or sub-award rounds.

RoleNameOrganizationContact
Program Contact
Colorado Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF)
Advisory Committee Chair
Michelle Mills
Chief Executive Officer
Colorado Rural Health Center
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Kari Snelson, LCSW, CHC
Chief Executive Officer
Northeast Health Partners (RAE Region 2)
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Jania Arnoldi, DHA, MBA
President & Chief Executive Officer
Valley-Wide Health Systems
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Camille Harding
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Paragon Behavioral Health Connections
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Reuben Farnsworth
Deputy Chief, Mobile Integrated Healthcare
Delta County Ambulance District
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Stephanie Sargent, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Cedar Point Health LLC (Montrose)
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Joni Reynolds, RN, MSN
Assistant County Manager / Executive Director
Gunnison County Health & Human Services
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
April Randle, MD
Physician, Basin Clinic (Naturita); Cortez City Councilmember
Southwest Health System
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Dannon G. Cox, PhD
Assistant Professor, Community Health Education
Colorado School of Public Health at University of Northern Colorado
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Lora Spradley
Citizen Liaison
Community / Public Seat
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Jack Devie
Certified Peer Specialist
Behavioral Health Lived Experience Seat
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Kevin Stansbury, MS, JD, FACHE
CEO, Lincoln Community Hospital; Board Chair, Colorado Hospital Association
Lincoln Community Hospital & Care Center (Hugo)
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Joe Theine, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Southwest Health System (Cortez)
No direct contact published
Advisory Committee Member
Konnie Martin
Chief Executive Officer
San Luis Valley Health (Alamosa)
No direct contact published
Ex Officio (Advisory Committee)
Stephanie Pugliese
Director
Colorado Office of eHealth Innovation (OeHI)
No direct contact published
Ex Officio (Advisory Committee)
Ned Calonge, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
No direct contact published
Ex Officio (HCPF Staff Lead)
Cristen Bates, MPH
Office Director, Medicaid & CHP+ Behavioral Health / Deputy Medicaid Director
HCPF
No direct contact published

RHTP Compliance Checklist

Key obligations for organizations participating in Colorado's RHTP programs.

0 of 8 checkedSource: RHTP NOFO

Need help navigating Colorado's RHTP compliance?

Harper automates quarterly reporting, outcome metrics, and real-time compliance monitoring for RHTP participants. Get set up before your state's deadlines.

2.98%
administrative rate
Colorado plans to keep administrative costs at just 2.98% of total program funding, maximizing direct investment in rural care delivery.
Source:CMS·Census

Federal Health Funding

Total HRSA grants to this state (FY16–25) vs. new CMS RHTP award

$168.6M
$164.7M
$174.2M
$182.8M
$222.6M
$347.8M
$212.8M
$201.4M
$192.6M
$196.9M
RHTP $200.1MHRSA $196.9M
2016
2025
FY26
HRSA
HRSA (proj.)
RHTP (CMS)
HRSA 10-yr avg.
HRSA FY25 (proj. FY26)
+ RHTP FY26 award
FY26 combined$397.0M

FY26 HRSA projected from FY25 actuals (FY26 not yet published). RHTP is new CMS funding in addition to existing HRSA grants.

Rural pop. (2020)
Change since 2010
Rural poverty rate
Primary care shortage areas
Practitioners needed
Hospital closures since 2005
Complete closures
Converted (limited services)

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