General · Readiness · 5 min read
What are the biggest mistakes to avoid with RHTP funding?
The biggest RHTP mistakes are treating the grant as permanent (ignoring the FY2030 cliff), building programs without measurement, pitching technology without an outcomes story, and acting alone instead of partnering with the state's mechanism. Each is avoidable with planning.
Five avoidable mistakes
Across audiences, the same pitfalls recur:
- Ignoring the FY2030 funding cliff: no sustainability plan
- Launching without baseline and outcome measurement
- Leading technology proposals with features, not outcomes
- Trying to access funds without engaging the state's process
- Funding enabling services with no path to ongoing support
The throughline
Every mistake traces back to treating RHTP as free money rather than as time-limited fuel for a durable, measurable program.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the single most common mistake?
- No sustainability plan. Programs built only for the grant period rarely survive when funding ends.
Figures reflect the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program NOFO and the December 2025 award announcement. RHTP Tracker is an independent resource by Moodr Health and is not affiliated with CMS.