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Governor Laura Kelly announced that Kansas is moving forward to develop an application for the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The program, part of H.R. 1, aims to address funding and coverage cuts to Medicaid that threaten the viability of rural hospitals already at risk of closing.

The RHTP will provide millions of dollars to strengthen state health care systems and support rural communities by improving access and quality of care. Half of the $50 billion will be distributed evenly among approved states, while the other half will be allocated based on criteria set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Kansas must submit a single application by November 5, with funding awards expected by December 31.

To guide the process, the state is creating the Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance, a group of stakeholders that will oversee application development and program implementation.

The Care Collaborative, a network of rural health providers, will assist the state in submitting a strong application to secure funding that supports sustainable rural health care delivery.

For more information visit the RHTP webpage.