Key Takeaways
- HRSA is the lead funder for telehealth infrastructure — TNGP and TTELP award $10M–$20M annually to rural health networks and FQHCs
- USDA DLT Grant ($27M) — deadline June 30, 2026; awards $50K–$1M for telemedicine infrastructure in rural areas
- FCC Healthcare Connect Fund provides 65% discount on broadband connectivity for healthcare providers — not a grant, but reduces operating costs significantly
- CMMI Innovation Models offer operational funding for organizations testing telehealth-integrated care models
- Tele-behavioral health is the fastest-growing HRSA telehealth priority — rural mental health and substance use disorder programs are heavily funded
The Federal Telehealth Funding Landscape
Telehealth received unprecedented federal support during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. While some pandemic-era waivers have lapsed, the underlying grant infrastructure for telehealth — particularly for rural and underserved populations — has grown stronger. HRSA, USDA, FCC, and CMMI collectively provide hundreds of millions of dollars annually to expand telemedicine access. For rural health providers, federally qualified health centers, and community mental health organizations, telehealth grants are among the most accessible federal funding available.
HRSA Telehealth Grant Programs
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) administers the primary federal telehealth grant programs through its Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT). HRSA telehealth programs specifically target rural, frontier, and medically underserved communities.
| HRSA Program | Focus | Award Range | Eligible Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telehealth Network Grant Program (TNGP) | Rural telehealth networks connecting providers across geography | Up to $500K/year, 3 years | Nonprofit health networks, rural hospitals, FQHCs |
| Telehealth Technology-Enabled Learning (TTELP) | Training rural providers via telehealth technology | Up to $1M/year | Academic medical centers, health systems |
| Rural Health Network Development | Building regional telehealth infrastructure | Varies by FOA | Rural health networks |
| Community Health Worker (CHW) Integration | CHW + telehealth models for care coordination | Varies by FOA | Community health organizations |
HRSA telehealth FOAs are published on Grants.gov and HRSA.gov. New opportunities typically open in the spring and fall. If your organization received HRSA telehealth funding in a prior cycle, renewal applications are generally more competitive than new applications. Organizations that have not previously received HRSA telehealth grants should prioritize building a network partnership structure — HRSA consistently funds networks of providers rather than standalone organizations.
USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant
The USDA DLT Grant Program is one of the most accessible federal telehealth grants available — open to a broader range of rural organizations than HRSA programs. DLT grants fund the acquisition of telemedicine technology, equipment, and infrastructure for rural healthcare providers and educational institutions. Awards range from $50,000 to $1,000,000. The program requires a 15% cost match from applicants.
For the 2026 cycle, the DLT deadline was June 30, 2026 with $27 million available. If you missed this cycle, the program typically runs annually. Applications are submitted through Grants.gov; the CFDA number is 10.855. Eligible applicants include rural nonprofits, rural healthcare providers, rural libraries, rural school districts, and rural electric cooperatives serving rural areas. The key eligibility factor is rural location — the USDA defines rural as communities under 20,000 population not adjacent to a metropolitan area.
FCC Healthcare Connect Fund
The Federal Communications Commission Healthcare Connect Fund is not a traditional grant — it's a 65% discount on broadband connectivity costs for eligible healthcare providers. This matters enormously for telehealth operations: rural hospitals, health clinics, and FQHCs can receive up to $250,000 per year in connectivity subsidies for high-bandwidth connections needed for video consultation, remote patient monitoring, and large medical file transfers.
Eligible providers include hospitals, rural health clinics, FQHCs, community mental health centers, and certain post-secondary educational institutions with health training programs. Applications are submitted to USAC (Universal Service Administrative Company), which administers the program on behalf of the FCC. The program year runs July to June; funding requests are due in March. Participation requires E-Rate registration at usac.org.
Tele-Behavioral Health: The Fastest-Growing Priority
Among all telehealth specialties, tele-behavioral health — remote delivery of mental health and substance use disorder treatment — receives the most focused federal grant attention in 2026. SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) funds Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), many of which integrate telehealth. HRSA's telehealth priorities explicitly highlight tele-psychiatry and tele-emergency behavioral health as high-need areas.
Organizations providing telehealth-based behavioral health services in rural or underserved areas should look at: SAMHSA Mental Health Block Grant supplements, HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), and CMMI model participation for organizations innovating in behavioral health care delivery. The combination of HRSA telehealth grants + SAMHSA behavioral health funding + FCC broadband subsidies can fully capitalize a rural tele-behavioral health program.
CMMI Innovation Models for Telehealth
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center (CMMI) funds organizations testing new care delivery and payment models, many of which involve significant telehealth components. Participation in a CMMI model can provide operational funding, enhanced Medicare reimbursement rates, and waivers of traditional telehealth restrictions. Models with active telehealth components in 2026 include the ACO REACH model (for accountable care organizations), the GUIDE model (for dementia care), and the Making Care Primary model.
CMMI model applications are typically competitive and require organizational readiness assessments. Organizations interested in CMMI participation should begin by consulting a technical assistance provider in their region and reviewing the CMMI model portfolio at innovation.cms.gov.