ACOs · Eligibility · 4 min read
Are accountable care organizations (ACOs) eligible for RHTP funding?
accountable care organizations (ACOs) are not direct CMS grantees, states hold the cooperative agreement. But accountable care organizations (ACOs) are eligible to participate as sub-recipients or partners through state solicitations, which is how the funding actually reaches them.
The eligibility reality
States apply and are accountable; sub-recipients (providers, plans, vendors) deliver So the question for accountable care organizations (ACOs) is not "can we apply to CMS" but "how do we qualify for our state's mechanism."
ACOs engage as delivery partners or sub-recipients, aligning RHTP-funded prevention with their existing value-based contracts.
How to qualify
Align your program (such as rural care-coordination and transitions-of-care programs) to the state's plan and the evidence-based prevention and chronic-disease management, and consumer-facing, technology-driven solutions categories, and be ready to show total cost of care for attributed rural members.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a federal application for providers?
- No. Providers and partners work through their state's process, not directly with CMS.
- Does rural location matter for eligibility?
- Yes. RHTP targets rural access, so programs serving rural populations are the focus of state solicitations.
Figures reflect the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program NOFO and the December 2025 award announcement. RHTP Tracker is an independent resource by Moodr Health and is not affiliated with CMS.