Rural health service funding to promote collaboration

Rural health programs are seeing changes at the federal and state levels as a result of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program federal initiative administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The program invests in rural health services for states to “modernize and sustain rural healthcare.”

Iowa received an initial $209 million for year one of its Healthy Hometowns initiative. If fully awarded over the five-year grant period, Iowa could receive up to $1 billion, said John Meyer, Rural Health Office director for University of Iowa Healthcare.

Future funding is dependent on continued federal approval and program requirements.

“Iowa’s need is significant because we have a large rural health footprint, including many critical access hospitals and rural health clinics,” Meyer said. “Rural hospitals are often the first access point for emergency care, primary care, diagnostics, chronic disease management, and coordination with higher levels of care.”