Our roundup of the latest trends that we’re seeing with the Rural Health Transformation Program, and why they matter.
The Big Picture
States continue to move from planning into implementation, with this week’s developments emphasizing regional collaboration, technology infrastructure, value-based care, and locally tailored solutions.
Here are four new developments we’re watching this week.
Top Headlines
1. North Dakota Launches $50.5 Million in New Funding Opportunities
North Dakota announced approximately $50.5 million in opportunities spanning telehealth, remote patient monitoring, ambulance upgrades, EHR enhancements, workforce support, AI, pharmacy kiosks, and behavioral health. The funding is part of the state’s nearly $200 million first-year RHTP allocation. Read the announcement.
Why It Matters
North Dakota’s broad portfolio illustrates how RHTP can address interconnected barriers rather than funding isolated projects. Access, workforce, technology, transportation, and community health are being treated as parts of the same transformation strategy.
Target Continuum’s Perspective
Organizations pursuing these opportunities should connect their proposed investments to measurable patient outcomes from the beginning. New technology or equipment will be more compelling when paired with a clear plan for patient education, adoption, care coordination, and reporting.
2. Indiana’s Eight Rural Regions Seek $120 Million Through Collaborative Proposals
Eight regional coalitions submitted proposals for a combined $120 million through Indiana’s GROW grants, representing 60% of the state’s first-year RHTP funding. The coalitions bring together hospitals, FQHCs, EMS agencies, community organizations, foundations, and other partners, with awards expected by September 1. Review Indiana’s regional grant model.
Why It Matters
Indiana is making regional collaboration the foundation of its transformation strategy, recognizing that rural access, workforce, maternal health, nutrition, and chronic disease cannot be solved by individual providers acting alone.
Target Continuum’s Perspective
Regional coalitions will need a shared patient journey, consistent community messaging, clear referral pathways, and common performance measures. Those operational details will determine whether collaboration translates into better access.
3. West Virginia Invests $10 Million in Value-Based Care for Substance Use Disorder
West Virginia announced three related funding opportunities totaling $10 million to develop value-based payment models and supporting infrastructure for substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery. The initiative is designed to improve care coordination, treatment engagement, recovery outcomes, and accountability while reducing avoidable emergency department use. Read the announcement.
Why It Matters
This is an important example of RHTP funding being used to change how care is organized and rewarded.
Target Continuum’s Perspective
Value-based models depend on engaging patients before, during, and after treatment. Participating organizations should build outreach, navigation, referral follow-up, and outcome measurement into the operating model rather than treating communications as a separate marketing function.
4. Pennsylvania Opens $26.8 Million for EHR and Interoperability Modernization
Pennsylvania opened $25 million for eligible healthcare organizations to implement certified EHR technology and connect with the statewide health information exchange, along with $1.8 million specifically for FQHCs and FQHC Look-Alikes. The application windows opened July 27 and may close when authorized funding caps are reached. View Pennsylvania’s funding opportunities.
Why It Matters
Pennsylvania is treating interoperability as foundational infrastructure for rural transformation. Better data exchange can improve care coordination, reduce duplication, and create the measurement capabilities required for future value-based models.
Target Continuum’s Perspective
EHR modernization should be connected to the patient experience. Organizations should evaluate how new capabilities will improve referrals, scheduling, follow-up, outreach, and the ability to demonstrate meaningful results.
Rural Outreach Tip of the Week
Make Every New Program Easy to Understand
RHTP-funded programs will only produce results if rural patients know they exist and understand how to participate. Before launching a new service, create a simple outreach toolkit with a one-sentence explanation, eligibility details, a clear next step, and consistent messaging for providers, community partners, social media, and patient communications. Test the language with people outside the project team to ensure it is clear and free of healthcare jargon.
What This Means for Rural Healthcare
This week’s developments show RHTP implementation becoming more specific and complex. States are funding technology, collaborative delivery models, workforce solutions, and new payment structures, but rural organizations will still need to turn those investments into accessible programs that patients understand and use.
Target Continuum helps rural healthcare organizations connect program strategies with patient outreach, engagement, partner coordination, implementation planning, and measurable outcomes. Learn more at rhtp.targetcontinuum.com.
Sources
- North Dakota Health and Human Services: New RHTP Funding Opportunities
- Indiana GROW Rural Health: Regional Grants
- West Virginia Department of Health: Value-Based Care Opportunities
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: RHTP Funding Opportunities
Looking For Help With Your RHTP Initiative?
Target Continuum takes the administrative and outreach complexity of the RHTP off your plate so you can focus on care. We support rural health organizations with the community-facing layer of RHTP initiatives, including patient outreach, education, engagement, partner coordination, outcome tracking, and reporting.
Ready to learn more? Schedule a conversation with our team. Twenty minutes. No pitch. We’ll listen, learn what your team is working through, and map out next steps that fit your capacity.
