August 27, 2026

Georgia Reaches Major Milestone with All Year 1 GREAT Health Awards Fully Committed

Final Year 1 awards complete the initial GREAT Health funding cycle of more than $218 million, advancing rural hospital transformation, healthcare access, workforce development, and technology-enabled care across rural Georgia.

ATLANTA (Aug. 27, 2026) –– The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) has awarded the final phase of Year 1 funding through the Georgia Rural Enhancement and Transformation of Health (GREAT Health) Program, bringing total investments to over $218 million to support rural healthcare transformation across the state. 

The Phase 4 awards support projects across all five GREAT Health initiatives and include funding to support rural hospitals preparing for new models of care, expand technology-enabled access to healthcare services, strengthen dementia care capacity, and introduce innovative tools designed to support Georgia’s healthcare workforce.  

“Completing this initial Year 1 award cycle marks an important milestone for GREAT Health and for rural communities across Georgia,” said Stuart Portman, executive director of the Medical Assistance Division at DCH. “With Phase 4, approximately $218 million has been awarded to support this work. We are now focused on putting these investments into action and working with our partners to build stronger, more sustainable systems of care for rural Georgians. To create this program from the ground up in less than a year is a monumental achievement in support of our rural communities. In that short time, we gathered public input, developed the application, hired expert staff, and contracted with the best partners. We also engaged our subgrantees to ensure they had the support needed to implement the ambitious GREAT Health Program. Ultimately, these efforts allowed us to award funds across the state and turn an inspiring vision into action.” 

“As a physician who practiced for years in rural Georgia, I can say without a doubt that what this team has accomplished through the GREAT Health program in a little over a year will have decades of positive impact on rural health care in Georgia,” said DCH Commissioner Dr. Dean Burke. “We are incredibly grateful to our federal partners at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and for the support of Governor Brian Kemp as we developed and executed an ambitious plan to improve health care quality, fiscal stability, and improved access for all Georgians.”

  • Transforming for a Sustainable Health System in Rural Georgia (Initiative 1) – $15,635,000: Awards in this initiative provide seven additional rural hospitals with pre-implementation funding to help these hospitals prepare for participation in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) Model. These awards follow the 80 rural hospital awards announced in Phase 3 and complete the planned group of 87 hospitals identified in Year 1. The full list of hospitals is available here. Additionally, DCH funded personalized assessments of all 87 hospitals to evaluate readiness and support preparation for participation in the AHEAD Model.
     
  • Strengthening the Continuum of Care in Rural Georgia (Initiative 2) – $6,209,688: 
    • DCH has awarded the Georgia Health Care Association for Regional Nursing Home Transportation Enhancement to assess transportation needs and establish regional approaches designed to improve access to non-emergency medical transportation for nursing facility residents. 
    • DCH also completed the procurement process for Type 2 ambulances that select rural hospitals will be eligible to apply for soon, supporting the transfer of patients while helping preserve emergency medical services capacity for emergency response. 
    • DCH also allotted funds to support planning and actuarial development for a proposed Nutrition and Weight Management eligibility category under Georgia’s Planning for Healthy Babies demonstration program. The proposed eligibility category is intended to expand access to services that support healthier pregnancies and maternal outcomes. 
    • DCH finalized the award to support Building Bridges (School-Based Health Care Services Infrastructure) with Emory University. 
    • An additional award supports the Behavioral Pediatric Resource Center’s Rural Provider Nutrition Training for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), expanding training and resources for rural providers to better address nutrition and feeding needs among individuals with ASD. 
    • Finally, DCH added to the award for the Department of Public Health (DPH) for Newborn Screening Investments. 
       
  • Connecting to Care to Improve Healthcare Access in Rural Georgia (Initiative 3) – $10,378,639 million: 
    • DCH awarded grants to eight hospitals for 12 telepods through the Care to Consumer Point-of-Care Telepods strategy to establish telehealth access points in community settings and connect rural residents with providers closer to home.
    • The Georgia Hospital Association received a grant to support Strengthening Perinatal Systems of Care to provide obstetrical emergency carts and support evidence-based patient safety practices to improve readiness for maternal emergencies. 
    • DPH received a grant to explore expanding Public Health Telehealth Infrastructure by strengthening the technology and equipment needed for rural public health sites to offer telehealth services. 
    • Finally, Rural Telepsychiatry awards to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and DPH. DBHDD will support a pediatric telepsychiatry training model that uses Project ECHO to strengthen rural providers’ ability to treat complex behavioral health conditions. 
    • DPH will expand its Perinatal Psychiatry, Education, Access, and Community Engagement (PEACE) for Moms program, which provides psychiatric consultation and support to providers caring for pregnant and postpartum patients experiencing mental health or substance use concerns. 
       
  • Growing a Highly Skilled Healthcare Workforce in Rural Georgia (Initiative 4) – $23,607,500: 
    • DCH awarded the Georgia Emergency Medical Services Association for Emergency Services Education and Training Awards. The funding will support education and training opportunities for rural students pursuing Emergency Medical Technician and paramedic certification. Together, these investments support GREAT Health’s broader efforts to recruit, train, and retain a highly skilled healthcare workforce in rural Georgia. 
    • DCH also provided additional funding for Nursing Care Improvements, including clinical faculty orientation and training. 
    • Additionally, DCH expanded support for the Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce (GBHWC) for Rural Provider Workforce and Graduate Medical Education Enhancements. 
    • Finally, DCH awarded investments to GA-CARE through a partnership between the University System of Georgia and GBHCW to strengthen the recruitment and development of Georgia’s nursing faculty.
       
  • Leveraging Technology for Healthcare Innovations in Rural Georgia (Initiative 5) – $37,500,000: Investments in this initiative support technologies designed to strengthen rural healthcare delivery, expand innovation, and improve administrative systems. 
    • DCH, in collaboration with the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, awarded 13 hospitals grants for Workforce Retention Technology. Funding will support the purchase of surgical robotics, with the goal of expanding surgical capabilities and supporting the recruitment and retention of surgeons in rural communities. 
    • DCH also awarded a grant to Equifax for Eligibility System Enhancements to aid in reducing delays in eligibility determinations.

Across the GREAT Health Program, less than 10% of Year 1’s funding is dedicated to administrative costs. These resources support critical functions needed to implement and oversee the program to support effective delivery of GREAT Health investments across rural Georgia. 

GREAT Health is Georgia’s Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, the federal-state partnership to strengthen rural communities by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes. Beginning in 2026 and over a five-year period, GREAT Health will provide funding to support projects that align with RHT Program goals. GREAT Health is organized around five initiatives and 29 strategies designed to improve healthcare access, outcomes, workforce capacity, innovation, and long-term sustainability across rural Georgia. These Phase 4 investments build upon earlier GREAT Health awards and complete the initial Year 1 award cycle for the GREAT Health Program, making a significant milestone in Georgia’s efforts to transform rural healthcare across the state. 

Join the DCH for the second quarterly update on GREAT Health on Thursday, September 10 at 1:00 p.m. ET, where leadership will share an overview of Year 1 funding, milestones achieved, key accomplishments since launch, and what’s next for GREAT Health. Additionally, two subgrantee recipients, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and Side by Side, will share how their funded projects are improving access to health care in rural Georgia. Learn more about the webinar and register to attend by clicking this link. 

The GREAT Health website at greathealth.georgia.gov serves as the central source for all future Requests for Grant Applications (RFGAs), program updates, and related materials. Sign up for the GREAT Health Program Updates Distribution List to receive future announcements and program updates. 

About the Georgia Department of Community Health 

DCH serves as the lead agency for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids®, which, combined, cover more than two million Georgians annually. The agency also oversees the State Health Benefit Plan, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division, and the State Office of Rural Health, among other divisions, accounting for an annual budget of more than $20 billion. Through effective planning, purchasing and oversight, DCH provides access to affordable, quality health care to some of the state’s most vulnerable and underserved populations. To learn more about DCH and its commitment to Shaping the Future of a Healthy Georgia, visit https://dch.georgia.gov/.

**The GREAT Health Program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program, a financial assistance award totaling $218,862,169.63 with 100% funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of DCH and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.