As telehealth continues to evolve beyond its pandemic-era expansion, federal agencies are increasingly supporting its integration through broader funding initiatives focused on access, infrastructure, workforce, and digital innovation. While relatively few opportunities are labeled explicitly as telehealth grants, many current federal funding streams incorporate telehealth as a key strategy to improve care delivery, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Recent announcements and forecasts across agencies such as Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reflect a continued emphasis on digitally enabled care models. These opportunities range from large-scale innovation models and behavioral health system transformation grants to research funding and broadband infrastructure programs. Below is a roundup of notable recent and upcoming federal opportunities that include a telehealth component.
HRSA and HHS Telehealth-Focused Opportunities
HRSA Telenutrition Grant & Technology-Enabled Collaborative Learning Program (Forecasted)
HRSA has indicated two forthcoming funding opportunities:
- The Telehealth Nutrition Services Network Grant Program, focused on telenutrition services and the use of telehealth to expand access to nutrition counseling and related care, and
- The Technology-Enabled Collaborative Learning Program, which will support the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning to improve retention of health care providers and increase access in rural and underserved areas.
As of now, both opportunities are listed as forecasted, however Grants.gov indicates that applications are expected to be due in early May. The Telenutrition Program has a total funding estimated at $5.4 million and an individual award ceiling of $300,000, while the Collaborative Learning Program has an estimate of $4.275 million in total funding with an award maximum of $475,000. The project start date for both programs is anticipated to be September 1, 2026. These opportunities reflect a growing recognition of telehealth’s role beyond traditional clinical services, extending into preventive care and chronic disease management.
Other HRSA Funded Telehealth Grants & Programs
HRSA also maintains a broad portfolio of telehealth-related grant programs through its Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT), which supports efforts to expand access to care through technology, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Current programs include the Telehealth Network Grant Program, Telehealth Focused Rural Health Research Center Program, Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program, and the Telehealth Resource Center (TRC) Program. Notably, CCHP is funded under the Telehealth Resource Center Program as the national telehealth policy resource center, providing technical assistance and policy analysis to support telehealth expansion nationwide.
CMS Innovation Models and Payment Demonstrations
MAHA ELEVATE Model
The CMS Innovation Center recently announced the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence (ELEVATE) model, a new initiative focused on improving access and care delivery through innovative payment and service models. While full funding details and participation parameters are still emerging, the model is expected to support providers in adopting advanced care delivery approaches, including virtual care and remote patient engagement tools. CMS will fund up to 30 cooperative agreements through MAHA ELEVATE, with a total budget of approximately $100 million over a three-year performance period. The model is intended to support the collection of quality and cost data on whole-person functional or lifestyle medicine interventions as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, conventional care. Proposals must include services not already covered by Original Medicare but supported by documented evidence of effectiveness.
The cooperative agreements will be awarded to organizations with experience integrating and measuring the impact of these approaches, including demonstrated improvements in health outcomes. Awardees will work with CMS to develop plans for data collection, quality measurement, recruitment, and cost containment. All proposals are required to incorporate nutrition or physical activity components, and three awards will be reserved for interventions that address dementia. Awards will be distributed in two rounds, supporting separate cohorts beginning in 2026 and 2027. Before submitting a full application, applicants are required to first submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), which must be completed through the MAHA ELEVATE Letter of Intent Portal by Friday, April 10, 2026. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and the MAHA ELEVATE Model Application is available on Grants.gov and due Friday, May 15, 2026.
ACCESS Model
Similarly, the Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) model represents another CMS Innovation Center initiative aimed at improving access to specialty care for individuals with chronic conditions. The model supports integrated, technology-enabled care—including clinician consultations, behavioral health services, care coordination, medication management, and use of FDA-authorized devices—which may be delivered in-person, virtually, or asynchronously. ACCESS focuses on four clinical tracks: cardio-kidney-metabolic conditions, musculoskeletal conditions, and behavioral health conditions. Participating organizations are responsible for managing conditions within a track and are evaluated based on clinical outcomes and patient-reported measures. The model is designed to complement traditional care, with primary care providers receiving updates and supporting coordination.
Although not a grant opportunity, ACCESS reflects a broader federal trend toward encouraging integration of telehealth within value-based care models rather than funding it as a standalone service. CCHP covered the ACCESS Model in more detail in a previous newsletter.
Additional Models
In addition to the ACCESS model, CMS has increasingly embedded telehealth across its Innovation Center initiatives. Models such as Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) Model, Comprehensive Care of Joint Replacement Model and the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model incorporate the possibility for participants to include virtual care as part of broader care delivery transformation efforts, including care coordination, behavioral health integration, and home-based care. For a full list of Innovation Center models, visit CMS Innovation Center’s database of models.
SAMHSA Behavioral Health Grants with Telehealth Applications
SAMHSA continues to play a significant role in funding behavioral health services, many of which incorporate telehealth as a delivery modality. While telehealth is not always explicitly named in program titles, it is frequently used to expand access, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
The Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI), Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems (Zero Suicide) and Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)
SAMHSA announced that more than $69 million will be made available across three programs: The Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI), Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems (Zero Suicide) and Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT). CMHI provides comprehensive community health services to children, youth and young adults, with $43 million to be made available under this program. Zero Suicide has $16.1 million allocated to the initiative and will provide resources for healthcare systems to implement the Zero Suicide framework for at-risk adults. AOT will receive $10 million in funding to facilitate the implementation of AOT for adults with serious mental illnesses. Given the significant use of telehealth to deliver mental health services, the use of technology in each of these opportunities will likely be present.
Key application details for each award are listed below:
- CMHI: Applications are due April 20, 2026. The anticipated award amount varies between $1 - $3 million. The length of project period is up to 4 years. A Pre-Application Webinar is being held April 1, 2026.
- Zero Suicide: Applications are due April 20, 2026. The anticipated award amount varies between $400,000 to $700,000. The length of project period is up to 5 years.
- AOT: Applications are due April 20, 2026. The anticipated award amount varies between $500,000 to $750,000. The length of project period is up to 5 years.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) Grants
CCBHC planning, implementation, and improvement grants are among SAMHSA’s largest funding opportunities. Telehealth is commonly used within the CCBHC model to provide crisis services, medication-assisted treatment, and ongoing care coordination. Upcoming opportunities are currently forecasted; however, the Grants.gov listing estimates an application posting date of May 1, 2026, with anticipated total funding of $94 million and approximately 94 awards expected.
Project AWARE
Project AWARE focuses on expanding mental health services for children and adolescents, particularly in school-based settings. Telehealth is often used in these programs to connect students with behavioral health providers when local resources are limited. This opportunity is also currently forecasted; however, Grants.gov lists an estimated posting date of April 1, 2026, with total program funding of approximately $55 million.
Other SAMHSA Opportunities
Additional SAMHSA programs, including suicide prevention initiatives, early psychosis intervention programs, and workforce training grants, may also incorporate telehealth components. These opportunities are tracked in SAMHSA’s grants forecast dashboard and are typically released throughout the fiscal year.
Telehealth Research Funding
The federal government also continues to support telehealth research-focused funding opportunities aimed at advancing digital health technologies and evaluating their effectiveness. These opportunities, funded through agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), illustrate the breadth of ongoing federal investment in research related to telehealth, remote monitoring, and digital care delivery, and highlight continued interest in evaluating the effectiveness, implementation, and optimization of technology-enabled care.
Examples of recent opportunities include:
Rural Health and Broadband Funding Programs
Telehealth expansion is closely tied to broadband access and infrastructure, and several federal programs support these foundational components. While these programs do not always follow traditional grant cycles, they represent ongoing federal investments that enable telehealth adoption, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Examples of these programs include:
- USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDL/REDG)
Provides funding to support rural economic development projects, including those that may incorporate telehealth infrastructure. Funding is available through loans and grants, with amounts varying by project and applications typically submitted through local utility partners.
- Rural Health Care Program – Healthcare Connect Fund
Supports eligible healthcare providers with broadband connectivity by covering a significant portion of eligible expenses. The program operates on an ongoing basis rather than a traditional grant cycle.
- Rural Health Care Telecommunications Program
Supports telecommunications services for rural healthcare providers, helping offset the cost of connectivity. Funding is ongoing, with award amounts based on service costs and program eligibility.
Additional Funding Sources and Tracking Resources
The federal administration is also supporting rural-focused initiatives through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, which aims to improve access, quality, and sustainability of care in rural communities through state-led transformation efforts. The program provides participating states with funding and flexibility to redesign care delivery systems, including expanding access to services like telehealth. While not a direct grant opportunity for individual providers, it may create downstream funding opportunities and infrastructure investments that support telehealth expansion at the state level. Only the 50 U.S. states are eligible to receive an RHT Program award; the District of Columbia and U.S. territories are not eligible.
To identify future opportunities, a useful starting point is the HHS Office for the Advancement of Telehealth’s centralized list of telehealth funding opportunities, which aggregates programs across federal agencies. Beyond federal grants, several organizations track telehealth-related funding opportunities from both public and private sources. The Rural Health Information Hub also tracks funding opportunities related to telehealth, including state-level programs. For example, South Dakota currently offers the Opioid Settlement Fund Community Grant Program, which aims to strengthen the rural behavioral health workforce. Approved uses of funds include medication-assisted treatment (MAT) training and expanding telehealth services in rural communities. The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers also maintains a listing of funding opportunities, including those from private foundations and regional programs, many of which have cyclical deadlines.
Summary
Federal funding for telehealth continues to evolve, with a growing emphasis on integrating virtual care into broader healthcare delivery and payment models rather than funding it as a standalone service. Opportunities across CMS, HRSA, SAMHSA, NIH, and USDA reflect this shift, supporting telehealth through initiatives focused on behavioral health, digital innovation, workforce development, and infrastructure.
While some opportunities remain in the forecast stage, others are currently available or operate on rolling or recurring cycles. For stakeholders interested in leveraging telehealth, understanding how these funding streams align with broader program goals—such as improving access, enhancing quality, and addressing workforce shortages—will be key to developing competitive applications. |