GO-NORTH Rural Healthcare Initiative
The Governor’s Office of New Opportunities and Rural Transformational Health* (GO-NORTH) was established by Executive Order under Governor Kelly Ayotte, and is funded by the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Federal program. GO NORTH advances five strategic initiatives to improve the health and sustainability of rural New Hampshire.
Initiative 1: Population Health
Increase prevention, chronic disease management, and improved behavioral and maternal health.
Initiative 2: Access
Ensure sustainable access to care by strengthening rural hospitals, health centers, EMS, and telehealth services
Initiative 3: Workforce
Build and retain a skilled rural health workforce through education, training, and career pathways.
Initiative 4: Financial Sustainability
Promote financial sustainability with innovative payment models and value-based care.
Initiative 5: Technology
Modernize care delivery by expanding technology, interoperability, and data security.
5 GO-NORTH Hubs
GO NORTH delivers this work through five Hubs, each supported by a GO NORTH lead who provides coordination, guidance, and oversight to ensure alignment with statewide priorities. The 5 Hubs represent rural health experience and knowledge that will support our work together.
Foundation for Healthy Communities’ Role
- On Monday March 16th, 2026, the New Hampshire Executive Council approved $66.5 million in year one Rural Health Transformation Program funding to the Foundation for Healthy Communities (FHC) to help drive meaningful transformation that improves health care access and outcomes for patients and rural communities across the Granite State.
- FHC will facilitate investments in rural health care providers to expand access to primary, behavioral, and specialty care, adopt innovative models of care, support workforce development, adopt innovative technology, and support financial sustainability initiatives.
- FHC’s experience managing complex health initiatives, administering awards, providing technical assistance, and working across hospitals, primary care, EMS and home health makes it well suited to implement this work.
This GO-NORTH project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $204,016,550.20 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Current Funding Opportunities
Emergency Medical Service
Closed
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a critical part of the rural health care delivery system. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to stabilize, strengthen, transform and sustain EMS in rural New Hampshire through targeted investments in support of NH’s GO-NORTH goals.
Data and Reporting Consultant
Open
FHC is seeking a qualified consulting firm or team to serve as its Data and Reporting Partner for the GO-NORTH Program. FHC will manage 50–100 active subrecipient awards across primary care, critical access hospitals, EMS, behavioral health, oral health, and community-based organizations. This RFP covers the full scope of data and reporting infrastructure needed to support that portfolio.
- Data collection system design and reporting framework development
- Subrecipient data capacity building and technical assistance
- Technology implementation and integration
- Program-level analytics and GO-NORTH/CMS reporting
- Data governance and program evaluation support
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: August 31st, 2026 5:00 PM
School-Based Oral Health Programs
Open
FHC is now accepting applications to expand preventative oral health services in rural New Hampshire through School-Based Oral Health programs. This RFA aligns with GO-NORTH Initiatives 1 (Population Health), 2 (Access), and 4 (Technology).
- Expanding existing School-Based Oral Health program
- Launching new programs in underserved rural areas
- Adopting electronic dental records systems for long-term sustainability
- Application Deadline: September 25thth, 2026 12:00A
- Application Portal Live: July 29th, 2026
- Information Session: August 24th – 10:30AM – 11:30 AM | Register
- Information session will be recorded and posted online with RFA Link
FHC Transformation Technical Assistance Center (T-TAC)
Open
FHC is launching the Transformation Technical Assistance Center (T-TAC) - a core support resource available to all FHC subrecipients. The T-TAC is not a grant program or funding track. It's a service designed to help funded organizations successfully implement their awarded projects. This Request For Qualication is looking for qualified professionals across eight core transformation areas. This RFQ aligns with all 5 GO-NORTH Initiatives.
- RFQ Deadline: August 31st, 2026 5:00 PM
News
Rural Health Matters
Rural communities are the backbone of New Hampshire, but access to health care in these areas can be limited by distance, workforce shortages and other barriers. Where you live should not determine the care you receive. Investing in rural health means ensuring that people in small towns and remote regions receive high-quality care without traveling long distances. Strengthening rural health care infrastructure – from local clinics to telehealth and workforce development – helps ensure that all Granite Staters have equitable access to the care they need. When rural health systems are strong, communities are healthier, more resilient and better able to support the people who call them home.
About the Program
The Rural Health Transformation Program provides an opportunity for the state to receive critical funds to strengthen rural health care access, quality and long-term sustainability.
What is the Rural Health Transformation Program
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) was authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21) and empowers states to strengthen rural communities across America by improving health care access, quality and outcomes by transforming the health care delivery system. Through innovative system-wide change, the RHTP invests in rural health care delivery systems for future generations.
Program Goals
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Make Rural America Healthy Again -
Sustainable Access
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Workforce Development
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Innovative Care
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Technology Innovation
Contact Us
Foundation for Healthy Communities
Travis Boucher
Vice President, Rural Health Transformation
Address:
125 Airport Road
Concord, NH 03301
– Phone: (603) 415-4258 (direct)
– Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, with annual awards through 2030. New Hampshire was awarded $204,016,550.20 in its first annual award.
This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $66,547,394 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
