KANSAS – Today, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) posted Requests for Applications (RFA) for two grant opportunities under the second year of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) in Kansas. The application period for the Community Health Worker + Accountable Food is Medicine (CHW+AFIM) and the Non-Emergency Transportation (NEMT) grants will open Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, to eligible Kansas providers.
Applications for both grants are due Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, at 12 PM Central Time. Final funding amounts are pending Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approval of the Year 2 Budget.
CHW+AFIM program grants will improve health outcomes among rural Kansans by integrating community health workers into clinical care teams to connect patients with health and social services to bridge gaps in care. Projects will also establish or expand Accountable Food is Medicine programs, which integrate nutrition interventions, such as medically tailored meals and produce prescriptions, into health care to prevent, manage, or treat chronic conditions.
NEMT program grants will support innovative, sustainable local transportation solutions to help rural Kansans reach medical appointments without duplicating existing services eligible for reimbursement. By improving access to timely care, the program aims to prevent manageable health issues from becoming emergencies and reduce pressure on rural emergency departments and health systems.
“Rural Kansans need reliable transportation to medical services and support managing their health between visits,” KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said. “These grants will help communities meet those needs by connecting patients with transportation, community health workers and nutrition programs that can help them stay healthier and prevent avoidable emergencies.”
Eligible providers include Kansas hospitals, physician practices, solo practitioners, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, local health departments, Native American Sovereign Tribal health care facilities, certified community behavioral health clinics, licensed substance-use disorder facilities, and licensed long-term care facilities located in rural areas.
Detailed submission and restriction information, along with the official RFAs for the grants, have been posted on the Kansas RHTP website. KDHE will host an informational webinar for interested parties for each grant. The NEMT webinar will be held Oct. 21 at 9 a.m., and the CHW+AFIM webinar will be held Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. Eligible providers should register for the appropriate webinar on the Kansas RHTP website.
The RHTP is a national $50 billion commitment to improve the health and well-being of rural communities across the country. KDHE’s implementation of its RHTP initiatives will pursue an approach that is both expeditious and effective, directing targeted resources to high-need areas throughout the state, with a focus on sustaining critical, high-quality health care access and services for rural Kansas.
To learn more about KDHE’s commitment to protecting and improving the health and environment of all Kansans through the RHTP visit: Rural Health Transformation Program | KDHE, KS.
