Georgia
Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)
Year 1 Award
$218.9M
Solicitations
01
This state has published its solicitation framework — eligible entity criteria and allocation methodology are available — but has not yet opened the formal application window.
Analysis
Georgia is one of the most advanced states in this batch. CMS formally approved Georgia's RHTP application — branded as the GREAT Health Program (Georgia Rural Enhancement and Transformation of Health) — on February 26, 2026, moving the state into active Phase 1 planning. The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) leads the program, building on the existing State Office of Rural Health (SORH) infrastructure. DCH has already engaged project management vendors, hired 20 dedicated GREAT Health staff, and invited 93 hospitals to participate in the program's value-based care component, with 57 submitting Letters of Intent by the March 15 deadline. Requests for Grant Applications (RFGAs) are expected to open in spring 2026, making Georgia one of the fastest-moving Southeastern states. Georgia's rural hospital closure crisis is among the most severe nationally. Eighteen of Georgia's 30 critical access hospitals are at risk of closure, and 82 of the state's 126 rural counties lack an OB-GYN specialist. The GREAT Health Program was explicitly designed to address these gaps through rural hospital stabilization, value-based care adoption, and targeted clinical service expansion. Georgia's 126 HRSA-designated rural or partially rural counties form the eligible geography: 115 fully rural counties and 11 partial-rural counties (Bartow, Bulloch, Carroll, Dougherty, Glynn, Gordon, Jackson, Spalding, Troup, Walker, Walton). No tribal provisions are described in any accessible DCH or CMS source — Georgia has no federally recognized tribal nations resident within the state, and no set-aside or tribal track has been identified.
Applications & Compliance
Implementation Model
Georgia's GREAT Health Program will distribute funds through a competitive Request for Grant Application (RFGA) process administered directly by DCH. RFGAs are expected to open in spring 2026 on greathealth.georgia.gov. The program supports rural providers in Georgia's 126 HRSA-designated rural or partially rural counties. A key centerpiece is the AHEAD model adoption pathway, in which eligible rural hospitals are invited to participate in Georgia's version of CMS's Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) value-based care model — 57 of 93 invited hospitals have already submitted Letters of Intent. DCH is also coordinating with sub-grantee agencies including the Georgia Department of Public Health, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Board of Health Care Workforce. Smaller rural organizations — FQHCs, RHCs, community health programs — should watch for RFGA eligibility language that addresses their scale, as the AHEAD component appears hospital-centric. The tribal track has not been described; Georgia has no federally recognized tribes resident in the state.
Investment Priorities
Transforming for a Sustainable Health System in Rural Georgia
Financial and operational sustainability for at-risk rural hospitals. Anchors the AHEAD model value-based care pathway ($56.7M Year 1 allocation); 57 of 93 invited hospitals submitted LOIs by March 15, 2026.
Strengthening the Continuum of Care in Rural Georgia
Integrated care delivery connecting acute, primary, behavioral health, and long-term care services. DPH and DBHDD are likely co-implementers for sub-components.
Connecting to Care to Improve Healthcare Access in Rural Georgia
Mobile health, telehealth, and community-based service delivery. Hosts three pre-announced competitive grant categories: Telehealth Enhancements, Care to Consumer: Telepods (~$17M).
Growing a Highly Skilled Healthcare Workforce in Rural Georgia
Workforce development, training, and retention. GBHCW is co-implementer. GME Fellowship track under GBHCW: Intent to Apply deadline passed March 15; $200K/PGY/slot, up to 12 slots.
Leveraging Technology for Healthcare Innovations in Rural Georgia
Health IT infrastructure, EHR modernization, data systems. Hosts Workforce Retention Technology pre-announced competitive grant category.
What to Watch
RFGA release — spring 2026
Spring 2026DCH has committed to opening RFGAs in spring 2026 at greathealth.georgia.gov. Four competitive grant categories are pre-announced: Telehealth Enhancements, Workforce Retention Technology, Care to Consumer: Telepods (~$17M), and Robotic Surgical Equipment. All show "Funding information will be available soon" as of March 22, 2026. The eligible entity language, award size, and consortium requirements in the first RFGA will determine how accessible GREAT Health money is to FQHCs, RHCs, and smaller rural providers. October 2026 fund allocation deadline creates pressure for 4–6 week release. Monitor greathealth.georgia.gov and contact info@greathealth.georgia.gov.
AHEAD model entry for non-hospital providers
2026The AHEAD value-based care model currently invites hospitals. Whether FQHCs, RHCs, and behavioral health providers can participate in AHEAD or access equivalent funding through a separate track is a critical unresolved question. FQHC and RHC leadership should contact DCH now to assess eligibility.
Rural hospital closure risk and GREAT Health stabilization funding
OngoingEighteen Georgia CAHs are at risk of closure. How DCH structures stabilization funding — whether as short-term operational support, capital grants, or tied to AHEAD participation — will determine which hospitals benefit and at what scale.
DCH sub-grantee agency coordination
2026DCH has designated three sub-grantee agencies (DPH, DBHDD, Board of Health Care Workforce) as co-implementers. How these agencies structure their own sub-awards — and whether they release separate solicitations — may create additional application opportunities for behavioral health providers and workforce training organizations.