The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the approval of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, which is backed by $50 billion in funding over the next five years.
With hundreds of rural hospitals in danger of closing, escalation of loneliness and isolation, and worsening chronic conditions, this program is aimed at strengthening rural communities across America by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem.
There are five strategic goals that the CMS has outlined, and Innovia Life is situated perfectly to enhance several of these areas and assist states in reaching more people in rural America with supportive services and maximizing the efficiency of their budgets.
Make rural America healthy again
Support rural health innovations and new access points to promote preventative health and address root causes of diseases. Projects will use evidence-based, outcomes-driven interventions to improve disease prevention, chronic disease management, behavioral health, and prenatal care.Sustainable access
Help rural providers become long-term access points for care by improving efficiency and sustainability. With RHT Program support, rural facilities work together—or with high-quality regional systems—to share or coordinate operations, technology, primary and specialty care, and emergency services.Workforce development
Attract and retain a high-skilled health care workforce by strengthening recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in rural communities. Help rural providers practice at the top of their license and develop a broader set of providers to serve a rural community’s needs, such as community health workers, pharmacists, and individuals trained to help patients navigate the healthcare system.Innovative care
Spark the growth of innovative care models to improve health outcomes, coordinate care, and promote flexible care arrangements. Develop and implement payment mechanisms incentivizing providers or Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to reduce health care costs, improve quality of care, and shift care to lower cost settings.Tech innovation
Foster use of innovative technologies that promote efficient care delivery, data security, and access to digital health tools by rural facilities, providers, and patients. Projects support access to remote care, improve data sharing, strengthen cybersecurity, and invest in emerging technologies.
As indicated in their announcement and communicated through their recent webinars, only states can apply for this funding directly, which also must be signed off on by their Governor. 50% of the funds will be distributed evenly to the states with approved applications, and the remaining 50% will be distributed based on other factors such as percentage of rural population and associated needs. Applications are due by November 5th and awardees will be announced in late December.
States must used the funds toward three or more approved areas, and Innovia Life specifically targets several of these, including:
We look forward to working with several states in the coming months and years to enhance their RHT Programs and helping millions of Americans lead happier, healthier lives. We know that through proper implementation of our services, we can help reduce over $200 billion in healthcare costs.