Oklahoma rural health transformation program - strengthening access, innovation, and workforce in rural communities

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded a $893.907 million Cooperative Agreement to the Oklahoma State Department of Health on December 29, 2025, under the Rural Health Transformation Program (CFDA 93.798) to transform healthcare delivery systems and improve access and health outcomes across rural Oklahoma through October 30, 2030.

The award supports a comprehensive portfolio of rural health infrastructure, clinical capacity, and workforce development initiatives. Sub-recipients deliver medical equipment acquisitions (portable diagnostic equipment, ultrasound machines, ventilators, cardiac monitors, endoscopy systems, telehealth carts, exercise equipment), emergency medical services enhancements (ambulance equipment, EMS training simulators, portable ventilators, chest compression systems), clinical program expansion (telehealth services including obstetric and gynecologic virtual care, community paramedicine training, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, vascular access programs using ultrasound-guided technology), and health workforce initiatives (physician residency expansion in psychiatry, obstetrics/gynecology, and general surgery; licensed practical nurse program expansion to ten rural schools; behavioral health provider relocation incentives). Sub-recipients also support health information infrastructure (electronic health record system extension to unconnected rural facilities, Health Information Exchange expansion, closed-loop referral system expansion to critical access hospitals), maternal health monitoring through remote patient monitoring devices, food access expansion via mobile markets, community health worker deployment in rural areas, and regional healthcare coordination networks. Administrative sub-awards fund Rural Regional Reorientation facilitators providing technical assistance and stakeholder convening across Oklahoma rural communities, and one-time architectural design services for residency program expansion.

Sub-recipients include rural hospitals and health centers (Fairview Regional Medical Center, Wagoner Community Hospital, Beaver County Memorial Hospital, Cimarron Memorial Hospital, Duncan Regional Hospital, Newman Memorial Hospital, Great Salt Plains Health Center, Central Oklahoma Family Medical Center, Comanche County Memorial Hospital, and others), Emergency Medical Services organizations (Ponca City Fire Department, Oologah-Talala EMS District, Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service, Pafford EMS of Oklahoma), federally recognized tribes (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma), mental health and behavioral health providers (Creoks Mental Health Services, Grand Lake Mental Health Center), state agencies (Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, Oklahoma State Department of Education), educational institutions (Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center), and community-based organizations (Stigler Health and Wellness Center, Community Market of Pottawatomie County, Lift Community Action Agency). Performance is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with sub-recipient performance spanning rural Oklahoma counties and communities.