Creator: Patrick Connole
Second Year of Rural Health Transformation Funding Is Set
CMS on Nov. 9 set $10 billion in awards for year two of the Rural Health Transformation Program.
The feds on Nov. 9 set $10 billion in awards for year two of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), which will help all 50 states build on early progress and deliver lasting improvements in access, quality, and health outcomes for rural Americans, according to the announcement by the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CMS.
Over the past months, CMS has released update after update for year one of the program, with only the merest of mention of the skilled nursing sector. But experts say many of the rural workforce, care delivery, and technology updates will impact the sector, even if indirectly.
In the second year, CMS said depending on each state’s priorities, the RHTP initiatives may include efforts to improve prevention and chronic disease management, create sustainable access to care, strengthen the rural health workforce, advance innovative care and payment models, and put modern technology and data to work for rural patients and providers.
“This year’s awards also reflect, in part, states’ progress implementing their approved RHTP plans. All 50 states submitted annual reports documenting their progress, which CMS reviewed as part of determining each state’s award,” CMS said.
State awards were determined based on a variety of factors, including state progress on implementation of state policies to improve rural health, such as the Presidential Fitness Test and Continuing Medical Education for physicians on nutrition.
Below are the state awards.
Year 2 Rural Health Transformation Awards
State | FY 2027 Award |
Alabama | $199,278,801 |
Alaska | $272,653,149 |
Arizona | $165,014,474 |
Arkansas | $207,788,910 |
California | $231,105,823 |
Colorado | $197,164,933 |
Connecticut | $153,652,078 |
Delaware | $160,294,521 |
Florida | $203,828,071 |
Georgia | $221,731,766 |
Hawaii | $189,615,723 |
Idaho | $182,698,377 |
Illinois | $190,458,454 |
Indiana | $208,908,591 |
Iowa | $216,007,657 |
Kansas | $225,896,117 |
Kentucky | $211,330,599 |
Louisiana | $211,858,378 |
Maine | $190,358,993 |
Maryland | $168,410,112 |
Massachusetts | $158,392,692 |
Michigan | $170,613,270 |
Minnesota | $190,833,571 |
Mississippi | $204,677,190 |
Missouri | $218,547,090 |
Montana | $239,740,669 |
Nebraska | $219,247,775 |
Nevada | $182,403,722 |
New Hampshire | $204,312,551 |
New Jersey | $142,338,224 |
New Mexico | $211,044,635 |
New York | $207,750,071 |
North Carolina | $216,824,573 |
North Dakota | $206,379,627 |
Ohio | $201,926,470 |
Oklahoma | $227,097,543 |
Oregon | $197,254,520 |
Pennsylvania | $190,730,492 |
Rhode Island | $158,171,967 |
South Carolina | $195,986,033 |
South Dakota | $187,653,446 |
Tennessee | $210,344,524 |
Texas | $281,976,026 |
Utah | $191,923,052 |
Vermont | $189,996,036 |
Virginia | $195,710,118 |
Washington | $177,060,212 |
West Virginia | $202,081,355 |
Wisconsin | $203,695,089 |
Wyoming | $207,231,931 |
Created through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, RHTP is giving states resources to transform how healthcare is delivered in rural communities, CMS said.
The legislation created a $50 billion, five-year investment to address longstanding challenges facing rural communities.
For a fact sheet about the RHTP and Year 2 awards, including how annual funding amounts are determined, visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/rural-health-transformation-program-year-2-awards.
Additional information about the RHTP, including state information, program guidance, and implementation resources, is available at: https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/rural-health.
Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.
