Rural Health Transformation in Practice: Where States Are Focusing—and How Providers Can Act

WebMD Ignite, Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) and Manatt Health are hosting a on Thursday, April 16, at 1 p.m. ET, for providers interested in participating in, and learning more about, the Rural Health Transformation Program. Click to register.

The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program represents the most significant federal investment in rural health care in decades. While funding and federal frameworks are now in place, the focus has shifted to the state level—where implementation decisions are actively taking shape. The Program awarded $50 billion across all states over five years to focus on five strategic areas:

• Improving rural health outcomes
• Ensuring sustainable access to services
• Strengthening the rural workforce
• Launching and scaling innovative care models
• Advancing digital capabilities, data systems and emerging technologies

States have significant flexibility on how to develop models to achieve these five objectives—giving participating providers both enormous opportunity and some uncertainty. As models are being implemented, some trends are already emerging that can help providers plan and take action sooner; those who act quickly are poised to have the largest impact.

Providers partnering with states on RHT should focus on three key areas:

• Aligning early with state priorities and regional partners
• Defining where to lead vs. where to participate
• Beginning operational planning ahead of final program design

Providers must also now answer three key questions for long-term success:

• Where do we have the strongest opportunity to participate?
• Which populations and services should we prioritize first?
• What capabilities do we need to build or strengthen?

There is no single RHT playbook. Variation across states is the reality, but organizations that move early, align locally and focus on execution will be best positioned to translate this unprecedented investment into durable improvements in rural health.

To explore how RHT is taking shape across states, what early priorities are emerging and how providers can begin positioning themselves, join Manatt Health, PCDC and WebMD Ignite for on April 16, at 1:00 p.m. ET.