This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released details on how states can apply for funds from the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program created under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act passed earlier this year. The RHT Program is a $50 billion fund to be distributed to states that apply over the next five years, with five stated goals:
Make rural America healthy again – Support rural health initiatives and new access points
Sustainable access – Help rural providers become long-term access points for care by improving sustainability and efficiency
Workforce development – Attract and retain a high-skilled workforce through recruitment and retention of providers in rural communities
Innovative care – Spark the growth of innovative care models to improve health outcomes, coordinate care, and promote flexible care arrangements
Tech innovation – Foster use of innovating technologies that promote efficient care delivery, data security, and access to digital health tools by rural facilities, providers, and patients
The program funding will be allocated over five years, with half evenly distributed to states with approved applications and the other half distributed based on states' metrics and applications that reflect the greatest potential for the improvement of rural community health. States must apply by Nov. 5.
NCPA joined three other pharmacy organizations in letters to the governors of all 50 states, encouraging them to leverage pharmacists in the programs and proposals when applying to the RHT Program. NCPA encourages its members to reach out to their state pharmacy associations to learn more about how their state plans to ensure pharmacists are engaged and included in this new initiative for rural health. This program will equate to real dollars for pharmacist services, so please work with your state partners to ensure you are included!
