On December 29th, CMS awarded funds to all 50 states under the Rural Health Transformation Program. The Rural Health Transformation Program’s $50 billion in funds will be allocated over five years. States will receive first-year awards from CMS averaging $200 million within a range of $147 million to $281 million. With this funding, states will implement comprehensive strategies to improve care delivery, support providers, and advance new approaches to coordinating health care services across rural communities. The Rural Health Transformation Program State Project Abstracts can be viewed here.
These funds will be administered by CMS’ newly-established Office of Rural Health Transformation (ORHT). Following the creation of the Rural Health Transformation Program earlier this year, CMS has been carrying out this work and has now formally established ORHT within its organizational structure. ORHT will guide states in implementing their rural health transformation plans, provide technical assistance, coordinate federal and state partnerships, and ensure strong oversight and accountability throughout the five-year program.