Calhoun County, AL – Governor Kay Ivey announced Wednesday that Alabama has officially submitted its plan for participation in the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The RHTP was established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was supported by President Donald Trump and approved by Congress in July. The multi-year, $50 billion federal program aims to strengthen rural communities nationwide by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes through long-term structural reforms.
Governor Ivey emphasized the importance of the program for the state’s rural areas.
“As someone from Wilcox County, making meaningful improvements in how we deliver health care in rural Alabama is critically important to me. Thanks to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, states have an opportunity to make transformational change that will benefit citizens and communities for generations,” Ivey said. “Making America Healthy Again begins in rural America, and I look forward to the state and federal governments working together to improve health care across the state.”
Alabama’s proposal, known as the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program (ARHTP), outlines 11 initiatives designed to support financially strained healthcare facilities, expand availability of essential services, and improve patient outcomes in rural regions. The initiatives include:
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Collaborative Electronic Health Record (EHR), IT and Cybersecurity Initiative
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Rural Health Initiative
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Maternal and Fetal Health Initiative
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Rural Workforce Initiative
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Cancer Digital Regionalization Initiative
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Simulation Training Initiative
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Statewide EMS Trauma and Stroke Initiative
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EMS Treat-In-Place Initiative
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Mental Health Initiative
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Community Medicine Initiative
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Rural Health Practice Initiative
These initiatives are intended to foster shared services among healthcare providers, strengthen communications systems, expand use of telehealth and other modern technologies, increase the rural healthcare workforce, and enhance statewide emergency response capabilities.
The ARHTP was developed through collaboration between the Governor’s Office, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), the Alabama Department of Finance, the Alabama Medicaid Agency, and the Alabama State Health Planning and Development Agency. Governor Ivey also convened a 20-member workgroup of healthcare experts and lawmakers and sought input from stakeholders across the state during the planning process.
“My team left no stone unturned as it gathered information to submit our plan,” Ivey said. “It is a thoughtful, strategic plan that must be coupled with state policy changes to maximize effectiveness. Once implemented, the initiatives and policy changes will make meaningful improvements to healthcare in rural Alabama. They will help fulfil President Trump’s goal to Make America Healthy Again, and I have no doubt they will help Alabamians become healthier.”
ADECA, which has extensive experience managing state and federal funding programs, will administer the ARHTP once funding is awarded. The agency will publish rules and application guidance for healthcare providers and other eligible entities seeking to participate in the 11 initiatives.
CMS is expected to announce funding awards by the end of the year.
