State Announces Alaska 'Rural Health' Funding Awards Going To: Anchorage, Bristol Bay, Haines, Denali, Nome & Others

 Alaska Department of Health Announces First Group of Rural Health Transformation Program Awards 

Rolling weekly announcements recognize projects that will strengthen access to care across rural Alaska 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — August 7, 2026 — The Alaska Department of Health (DOH) today announced the first projects selected to receive Notices of Intent to Award through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), marking the beginning of a series of funding announcements designed to strengthen access to health care in communities across Alaska. Additional notices will be announced each Friday as they are finalized, rather than waiting until the entire review process is complete. 

NOTE FROM COUNTRY JOURNAL. TO VIEW THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE WON FUNDING, CLICK THE FOLLOWING: 

This first release includes intent to award over $4.5 million to 19 projects in communities across Alaska. A list of the projects is available here.   

These projects are designed to expand access to care, strengthen the health workforce, improve infrastructure, advance technology, and support innovative approaches that help rural and hub communities and regions meet their unique health care needs.  

Advocacy and support from Alaska's Congressional Delegation helped secure this historic investment in rural health care. 

"My Healthy Families initiative is built on three pillars: healthy beginnings, health care access, and healthy communities," said Governor Mike Dunleavy. "The Rural Health Transformation Program is an important investment in that vision, helping communities strengthen local health care systems, grow the workforce, and improve access to care. By supporting community-driven solutions, we're helping make Alaska the healthiest place to raise a family."

“The Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is helping states like Alaska develop innovative, locally driven solutions to improve rural Americans’ access to high-quality care," said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. "These first grant awards demonstrate how this historic investment is empowering rural communities to strengthen their health systems, put patients first, and bring better care closer to home.”

"These awards represent more than individual projects, they represent a long-term investment in healthier communities across Alaska," said Commissioner Heidi Hedberg. "Throughout this process, we've heard directly from communities about the challenges they face and the solutions they believe will make the greatest difference. The selected projects reflect those local priorities while helping build a stronger, more sustainable health care system for future generations." 

Projects are selected based on criteria including alignment with Alaska’s RHTP goals, transformational potential, rural impact, sustainability, and contribution to a balanced statewide portfolio. Final award amounts and project terms remain subject to completion of budget review, resolution of any award conditions, and execution of a grant agreement. The Department is working directly with applicants and CMS to resolve outstanding questions and complete decisions as quickly as possible. 

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is part of a $50 billion, five-year national initiative authorized by Congress supported by Alaska’s congressional delegation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded Alaska $272,174,856 for year one, one of the largest allocations in the nation.  

DOH is committed to responsible stewardship of federal funding. As additional awards are announced over the coming weeks, the department will continue updating the RHTP website with award information and related resources. Once all awards have been announced, DOH intends to publish a comprehensive public dashboard that allows Alaskans to explore the full portfolio of investments from multiple perspectives. 

For more information about the Rural Health Transformation Program, including weekly award announcements and program updates, visit https://health.alaska.gov/en/education/rural-health-transformation-program/.