By Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will open applications for the Nebraska Rural Health Workforce Incentive Program on April 15, 2026. This program will provide financial incentives to support health care professionals in relocating to, or continuing to serve in, rural Nebraska counties—defined by the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) as all counties except Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy—to strengthen recruitment, retention and the expansion of clinical services in rural communities.
Full-time and part-time healthcare providers living in Nebraska and providing care in rural communities are eligible. Providers must agree to serve for five years at an eligible facility in a rural community. Providers must accept Medicaid and work in one of the following settings:
- Rural Health Clinics (RHC)
- Emergency Medical Service agencies
- Nursing Homes/Assisted Living Facilities
- Critical Access Hospitals (CAH)
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) in rural areas
- Indian Health Clinics in rural counties
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC)
- Prospective Payment System hospitals
- Private practice
- Mental/behavioral health clinics
- Schools
- Local health departments
- Dental clinics
There are two award categories. Relocation/Expansion awards will be awarded to eligible providers moving from urban to rural areas or expanding service locations in rural areas. Retention awards will be awarded to eligible providers already practicing in rural counties. Award amounts will range from $7,500 to $75,000 per year for five years.
To see a full list of eligible provider types, visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Nebraska-Rural-Health-Workforce-Incentive-Program.aspx.
DHHS will host two virtual informational sessions to provide information on provider eligibility requirements, employer and provider commitments, eligible provider types, Medicaid and cost-sharing requirements and program timelines.
- Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 12 p.m. CT. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p69CRBleTqqBUSwYzQvDdQ
- Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 6 p.m. CT.
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dDAK4R76S-2JUBUwDNfsxg#/registration
For questions about this program, please contact the DHHS Office of Rural Health at 402-471-2337 or dhhs.ruralhealth@nebraska.gov.
RHTP is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize rural health care and make it more sustainable. Nebraska’s plan will build a prevention first, tech-enabled, sustainable rural health care system.
To learn more, visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Rural-Health-Transformation.aspx.