Funding will help rural community health centers improve health outcomes, prevent chronic disease, and strengthen access to care across Colorado’s rural communities.
Carina Health Network has been awarded $5.4 million through Colorado’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to support rural community health centers in strengthening financial sustainability and helping more Coloradans stay healthy through better prevention, early intervention, and chronic disease management.
The funding is part of nearly $170 million in RHTP grants directed by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) to rural healthcare providers across Colorado. Funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), these investments will help protect access to care and support better health outcomes in Colorado’s rural and frontier communities.
Through this award, Carina will expand its work with seven rural community health center locations across La Plata, Garfield, Delta, Saguache, Prowers, Mesa, and Montrose counties. The locations are operated by member organizations in Carina’s statewide network, including Axis Health System, Mountain Family Health Centers, PrimeHealth+, River Valley Family Health Centers, Valley-Wide Health Systems, High Plains Community Health Center, and Uncompahgre Medical Center.
The funding will support two complementary initiatives: preparing rural health centers to participate in value-based payment arrangements and strengthening the prevention and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Participating organizations will receive tools, training, analytics, and collaborative support to advance these efforts.
The award will help participating organizations expand access to care for uninsured and underinsured patients, improve care for individuals living with chronic conditions, strengthen financial sustainability, and deliver more coordinated care. Together, these efforts are designed to help patients stay healthier, better manage chronic disease, and avoid preventable complications.
“Strong rural health centers are critical to the health and vitality of Colorado’s communities,” said Jason Greer, CEO of Carina Health Network. “This investment will continue to help rural healthcare providers manage the unique challenges of delivering care across large geographic areas while supporting care for patients and building a stable future for our rural communities.”
Funding will support projects in two awarded areas: Establish Incentive Payments (VBP and APM Readiness) and Implement Policies and Practices for Chronic Disease Risk Factors. Through this award, Carina will:
- Advance value-based care readiness by helping rural health centers evaluate and prepare for alternative payment models and shared savings arrangements.
- Develop a rural primary care membership model designed to expand access for uninsured and underinsured patients while creating more predictable revenue streams for rural providers.
- Implement evidence-based chronic disease protocols to help patients prevent and better manage conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic diseases.
- Expand quality improvement and peer learning initiatives that support collaboration among rural clinics.
- Enhance population health analytics and reporting tools to help providers identify care gaps and improve outcomes.
Colorado is directing $169,587,181 in RHTP grants to rural healthcare providers across the state. Through a highly competitive application process, 91 applicants and approximately 250 projects were selected to receive funding across 52 rural or frontier counties and three rural census tract counties.
A complete list of Colorado Rural Health Transformation Program awardees and additional information about RHTP is available on the RHTP website.
About the Rural Health Transformation Program
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a five-year federal initiative administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designed to strengthen healthcare access and improve health outcomes in rural and frontier communities. The program supports investments in workforce development, innovative care models, technology-enabled services, and health system sustainability. The program was authorized under Section 71401 of H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21) to provide grants totaling $50 billion in federal funding nationwide from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026 through FFY 2030.
From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Colorado’s award totals $200,105,604.17 for the first year of the program to support rural health transformation efforts across the state, and is 100% funded by CMS. The contents of this release are those of Carina Health Network and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government.