Chronic Care Telehealth Centers of Excellence

The Chronic Care Telehealth Centers of Excellence is a forecasted funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This program seeks to elevate and integrate telehealth technology into the full spectrum of chronic care services across academic medical centers in the United States. Telehealth has become a critical tool in healthcare delivery, particularly for managing chronic illnesses that require continuous monitoring and timely interventions. By leveraging the infrastructure and research capabilities of academic medical institutions, HRSA aims to establish national models that demonstrate best practices in telehealth-supported chronic care. This initiative will fund up to five academic medical centers through cooperative agreements, encouraging them to act as hubs for innovation in telehealth application. The funding supports a range of chronic care services, including prevention, long-term management, and treatment of acute episodes stemming from chronic conditions. In addition to deploying these services, awardees are expected to conduct rigorous research and disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications, contributing to the evidence base for scalable, technology-driven chronic care models. The program does not require cost sharing or matching contributions, allowing institutions to fully leverage the federal funding provided. The anticipated total program funding is $19,000,000, with a maximum of $3,800,000 available per award. Although an award floor is not specified, the scope and intent of the cooperative agreements suggest a substantial level of engagement and institutional commitment will be necessary. These centers are expected to establish sustainable, replicable telehealth models, highlighting interoperability, patient engagement, and care coordination. Eligible applicants for this opportunity are limited to public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education, with a specific emphasis on academic medical centers. These institutions must have the capacity to lead advanced telehealth integration initiatives, conduct impactful research, and function as national exemplars for chronic care service delivery. Eligibility does not extend to for-profits, tribal entities, or non-academic health systems, which narrows the applicant pool to ensure alignment with HRSA’s strategic goals for evidence generation and dissemination. Applications are expected to open on February 23, 2026, and are due by April 24, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. ET. All applications must be submitted electronically by the stated deadline. Awards are anticipated to be issued by August 4, 2026, with funded projects expected to begin on September 1, 2026. The program currently does not list a pre-application requirement, and no recurring timeline is specified. As this is a forecasted opportunity, dates and details may be subject to change upon the official notice of funding availability. Prospective applicants can obtain additional information by contacting CDR Jenna Cope at the Health Resources and Services Administration via phone at 301-443-5503 or email at [email protected]. While a link to a PDF funding announcement is not currently available, updates may be provided through Grants.gov or the HRSA website as the forecast progresses to a posted opportunity.