Glenwood Springs, CO – September 2026 – Mountain Family Health Centers (MFHC) has been awarded $1,689,440 through Colorado’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to strengthen whole-person care by addressing barriers to health, including food and clothing insecurity, transportation challenges, and navigating an increasingly complex health care system, while ensuring patients have access to high-quality, coordinated care and support.
MFHC will use its RHTP award to hire care coordinators and standardize inter-agency referral processes. New technology will help the organization increase access to telehealth services and reduce chronic illnesses, and a partnership with West Mountain Regional Health Alliance will improve regional action plans and referral strategies. Over 17,000 individuals are expected to benefit.
“Whole person care extends beyond medical needs; it addresses the social and practical barriers that can impact a patient’s health and wellbeing such as housing, transportation, habits and wellness routines, and access to quality, nutritious food. By integrating these social determinants of health with a patient’s clinical needs, Mountain Family can provide more comprehensive, accessible, and coordinated care that supports improved health outcomes and greater quality of life to the communities we serve,” said Karen Torres, MFHC’s Director of Nursing.
Care coordination is key in ensuring patient needs are fully met. Data from The Colorado Health Foundation’s Health Access Survey shows that without care coordination, over 40% of uninsured residents were unable to get an appointment when needed versus roughly 15% of their peers with care coordination. Additionally, 31% of uninsured residents were told their provider of choice was not accepting new patients versus only 8% of their peers with care coordination. These barriers to access affect care and health outcomes.
Colorado is directing $169,587,181 in RHTP grants to rural healthcare providers across the state. Through a highly competitive application process, 91 applicants and approximately 250 projects were selected to receive funding across 52 rural or frontier counties and three rural census tract counties. Funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), these investments will help protect access to care and support better health outcomes in Colorado’s rural and frontier communities.
A complete list of Colorado Rural Health Transformation Program awardees and additional information about RHTP is available on the RHTP website.
About Mountain Family Health Centers
As a nonprofit, community-led health center, Mountain Family Health Center’s mission is to improve the health of our community by providing affordable medical, behavioral, and dental healthcare for all. Mountain Family currently operates health centers in Avon, Basalt, Glenwood Springs, Gypsum, and Rifle, as well as three school-based health centers. To learn more, visit our website www.mountainfamily.org.
About the Rural Health Transformation Program
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a five-year federal initiative administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designed to strengthen healthcare access and improve health outcomes in rural and frontier communities. The program supports investments in workforce development, innovative care models, technology-enabled services, and health system sustainability. The program was authorized under Section 71401 of H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21) to provide grants totaling $50 billion in federal funding nationwide from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026 through FFY 2030.
From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Colorado’s award totals $200,105,604.17 for the first year of the program to support rural health transformation efforts across the state, and is 100% funded by CMS. The contents of this release are those of Mountain Family Health Centers and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government.
Media Contact
Dana Peterson
Chief Workforce & Development Officer
Mountain Family Health Centers
dapeterson@mountainfamily.org
(970) 928-1623