January 16, 2026

The President’s Message is published in the MHA Weekly News Report, a member-only publication of the Montana Hospital Association. To subscribe, click here.

This week marked another important step forward in Montana’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).

Earlier this week, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) presented an updated RHTP briefing to the Interim Budget Committee. The presentation included revised budget figures, a timeline for activities over the next two quarters, state reporting requirements, and details on advisory committee membership. Notably, Initiative 2—Rural Facility Sustainability—received the largest share of new funding following the State’s $233 million award. With an $82 million allocation for FFY 2026, this initiative is expected to be where hospitals and rural facilities receive the most direct support.

According to the State’s timeline, the first RHTP Requests for Proposals are expected to release in FFY Q2 (Jan-March), with partner selection and contracting starting in FFY Q3 (April-June). We are monitoring this process closely and expect to submit proposals in areas that directly impact our membership.

I am also pleased to share that the Montana Hospital Association will serve on the RHTP Stakeholder Advisory Committee alongside 30 other statewide organizations. The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for January 22. The meeting will be streamed on Montana PBS, with portions open to the public and opportunities for public comment for those attending in person. MHA will be represented by me, along with MHREF Executive Director Shani Rich, to ensure member interests are well represented. Individual hospital participation is welcome, though engagement will be limited to the public comment period. More information on that meeting here.

Another key component still taking shape is the Montana Rural Health Center of Excellence. This entity will provide functional oversight of Initiative 2 and represents a critical opportunity for hospital engagement. While DPHHS has not yet released details on how membership will be selected, MHA continues to advocate for broad and meaningful hospital representation on the Center of Excellence.

Finally, we are hearing from a growing number of organizations and companies interested in partnering with hospitals through the RHTP. To help coordinate and inform potential responses to upcoming RFPs, MHA has created a Partner Interest Form. Members are welcome to share this link with interested parties.

As always, we encourage you to visit www.mtha.org/RHTP for the latest updates, FAQs, and links to key resources. We will continue to keep you informed as this important work moves forward and advocate for policies and investments that strengthen Montana’s hospitals and the communities they serve.