Managed Care Organizations · Eligibility · 4 min read
Are managed care organizations (MCOs) eligible for RHTP funding?
managed care organizations (MCOs) are not direct CMS grantees, states hold the cooperative agreement. But managed care organizations (MCOs) 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 managed care organizations (MCOs) is not "can we apply to CMS" but "how do we qualify for our state's mechanism."
MCOs coordinate with state Medicaid and RHTP agencies, often co-funding or operationalizing programs for shared members.
How to qualify
Align your program (such as member outreach and care management for rural enrollees) to the state's plan and the evidence-based prevention and chronic-disease management, and additional uses that promote sustainable access categories, and be ready to show HEDIS quality measures for 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.