The CMS is reducing technical support for states applying to the Rural Health Transformation Program ahead of next month’s application deadline, citing impacts from the government shutdown.

The federal government launched the $50 billion program this summer, billing it as an opportunity for states to invest in rural health, including through provider recruitment initiatives and emergent technologies. It has a tight turnaround window — applications opened Sept. 15 and are due Nov. 5.

Now, the CMS says applicants may receive a delayed response to questions sent to the program’s support email, which was created to field inquiries from state public health teams, including “technical questions” not covered in its webinars. An automated reply from the support team to Healthcare Dive said

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