HarperRHTP Tracker
All States/Illinois

Illinois

Planning

Financial Sustainability

FY26 Award
$/Rural Resident
$115
Rank
33rd /50
Rural Pop.

Data:CMS·Census

Funding Breakdown

Baseline
Workload
Baseline: $100.0M
Workload: $93.4M

Source: CMS award methodology

Initiatives by CMS Goal Bucket

Access to Care
EMS and Mobile Healthcare

Expand EMS and mobile healthcare services to overcome geographic barriers to care in rural Illinois.

Workforce Development
Building a Resilient Rural Workforce

Expand healthcare workforce through training healthcare support workers, building a rural health education pipeline, and direct workforce expansion.

Financial Sustainability
Hospital Transformation

Support rural hospital transformation to sustainable operating models with community care infrastructure.

Quality & Health Outcomes
Hospital Disease Prevention

Implement disease prevention programs through hospital-community partnerships to improve rural health outcomes.

Infrastructure & Technology
Technological Innovation for Virtual Care

Deploy virtual care technologies to overcome geographic barriers and connect rural patients with specialty services.

Source: CMS state abstracts

How to Participate in Illinois

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

Lead State Agency
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS)
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 Illinois 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.

BidBuyPrimary
Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services
Illinois eProcurement used by HFS and other agencies for RFPs/RFIs.
Illinois Procurement Bulletin
Illinois Procurement Policy Board
Statutorily-required public notice bulletin for state solicitations.
HFS RHTP Program PagePrimary
Illinois HFS
Landing page with RHTP update to GA, project narrative, overview.

Illinois program contacts

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

RoleNameOrganizationContact
HFS Director
Elizabeth M. Whitehorn
Director
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
HFS Executive Staff
217-782-1200

RHTP Compliance Checklist

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

0 of 8 checkedSource: RHTP NOFO

Need help navigating Illinois'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.

3
transformation categories
Illinois organizes its RHTP plan into three categories: Transforming Rural Healthcare, Overcoming Geographic Barriers to Care, and Building a Resilient Rural Workforce.
Source:CMS·Census

Federal Health Funding

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

$353.2M
$356.0M
$378.8M
$393.0M
$488.0M
$745.9M
$469.5M
$436.8M
$426.9M
$411.4M
RHTP $193.4MHRSA $411.4M
2016
2025
FY26
HRSA
HRSA (proj.)
RHTP (CMS)
HRSA 10-yr avg.
HRSA FY25 (proj. FY26)
+ RHTP FY26 award
FY26 combined$604.8M

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)
Sources:HRSA·Sheps Center·Census·USDA ERS·HRSA HPSA

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