The arkansas rhtp expands access, strengthens care, grows the healthcare workforce, and advances telehealth to improve health outcomes and service quality for rural residents and communities statewide…

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded the Executive Office of the State of Arkansas (Office of the Governor) a $626.338 million Cooperative Agreement on December 29, 2025, under the Rural Health Transformation Program (CFDA 93.798) to implement a statewide rural healthcare initiative.

The program comprises four core initiatives. The Healthy Eating, Active Recreation, and Transformation (HEART) initiative funds prevention and chronic disease programs, school and community-based wellness initiatives, nutrition interventions, and physical activity programming. The Promoting Access Coordination and Transformation (PACT) initiative supports integrated care coordination and value-based delivery models. The Recruitment Innovation Skills and Education for Arkansas (RISE AR) program develops the rural healthcare workforce through recruitment and education activities. The Telehealth Health-monitoring and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (THRIVE) initiative advances technology-driven healthcare solutions. Across all initiatives, the program integrates evidence-based prevention programs, care coordination, value-based delivery models, and mental and behavioral health services, with emphasis on cross-sector collaboration and data-driven decision-making.

The state will identify and engage sub-recipients based on alignment with and capacity to support the Rural Health Transformation Program; sub-recipients have not yet been determined. Performance occurs statewide in Arkansas through October 30, 2030.

The arkansas rhtp expands access, strengthens care, grows the healthcare workforce, and advances telehealth to improve health outcomes and service quality for rural residents and communities statewide - subawardees: to be determined; the state is committed to complying with all CMS requirements for identifying and engaging subrecipients, contractors, and other partners as the program progresses. Subawardees will be selected by the state based on alignment with and capacity to support arkansas's rural health transformation (RHT) program. Project summary: the arkansas RHT program is a comprehensive statewide initiative designed to strengthen rural healthcare delivery, expand access to care, improve health outcomes, and ensure sustainable, high-quality services for all arkansans. By focusing on four core initiatives, healthy eating, active recreation, and transformation (HEART), promoting access coordination and transformation (PACT), recruitment innovation skills and education for arkansas (rise AR), and telehealth health-monitoring and response innovation for vital expansion (THRIVE), arkansas is taking a holistic, community-driven approach to rural health challenges. These initiatives integrate evidence-based prevention programs, workforce development, care coordination, value-based delivery models, and technology-driven solutions, ensuring that rural residents receive timely, efficient, and patient-centered care, including mental and behavioral health services. Across all initiatives, the state emphasizes cross-sector collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and continuous evaluation to ensure that program activities meet the needs of rural communities while aligning with CMS priorities. Use of funds: RHT program funds will support targeted investments across each initiative. HEART will focus on prevention and chronic disease programs, school and community-based wellness initiatives, nutrition interventions, and physical activity programming. PACT will fund integrated networks, expanded specialty and primary care access, scope of practice enhancements, and strategic facility investments. Rise AR will invest in leadership training, expanding residency, preceptorship, and other training programs for healthcare professionals, recruitment and retention incentives, professional development programs, and tele-education infrastructure to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce. THRIVE will fund telehealth platforms, technology-enabled monitoring for chronic diseases, emergency medical services modernization, and virtual care models to expand access and improve patient outcomes. Across initiatives, funds will also support data collection, analytics, performance tracking, and program evaluation to drive continuous improvement. Outcomes: through these investments, arkansas expects to achieve measurable improvements in access to care, preventive health utilization, chronic disease management, care coordination, workforce capacity, and technology adoption. HEART will lead to healthier behaviors, improved child and adult health outcomes, and increased community engagement. PACT will improve care integration, reduce gaps in specialty care, and enhance efficiency across rural providers. Rise AR will strengthen the pipeline and retention of healthcare professionals, ensuring a sustainable, skilled workforce. THRIVE will expand access to telehealth, enhance EMS response, improve remote patient monitoring, and integrate innovative digital solutions into routine care. Collectively, these initiatives will create a resilient, coordinated rural healthcare system, improve the quality of care, and lay the foundation for long-term, sustainable health improvements for rural arkansas communities. Total estimated budget: $1,000,000,000