Availability of Rural Health Transformation Program Payments; Modernizing Healthcare Technology and Enabling Interoperability

The PA Department of Human Services (Department) announces the availability of program payments for certain qualified entities to fully onboard to the Statewide health information exchange, the Pennsylvania Patient and Provider Network (P3N). Eligible qualified entities may receive a program payment to:

(1) Update or implement a Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) system in accordance with 45 CFR 170.315 (relating to ONC certification criteria for health IT) and become a participant in one of the Commonwealth's five certified Health Information Organizations (HIO) and fully onboard to the P3N.

(2) Participate in one of the Commonwealth's five certified HIOs and fully onboard to the P3N.

The Department is authorized to issue program payments to qualified entities under the Rural Health Transformation Program (Program).

For these Program payments, the following entities may submit a request for funding and eligibility certification:

• Hospitals licensed as a general acute care by the Department of Health.
• Long-term care nursing facilities
• Home health care agencies
• Behavioral health providers, identified by either a license or certificate of compliance from the Department, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or a psychiatric hospital licensed by the Department of Health.
• Community homes for individuals with an intellectual disability or autism licensed and serving at least 11 residents.
• Intermediate care facilities for individuals with an intellectual disability licensed and serving at least 11 residents.

The Department will make one payment per qualified entity, which may include multiple locations. Program payments will be authorized in the order eligibility certifications are received. Additional information and requirements, including the eligibility certification, are available on the Department's website at pa.gov/agencies/dhs/programs-services/healthcare/rural-health/rhtp-funding-opportunities.

Eligibility certifications will be accepted July 27, 2026, at 8 a.m., through August 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., or until the authorized funding cap has been met, whichever is sooner. Future funding opportunities will also be made available as outlined in the Department's Federally-approved Program application available at pa.gov/agencies/dhs/programs-services/healthcare/rural-health.

Public Comment

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding this notice to the Department at RA-HHRRLHLTHTRNSPLAN@pa.gov.

For more information, please review the July 11, 2026, edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.