Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced $149.3 million in grant funding as part of the first round of the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The funding, unveiled on Thursday, marks a significant investment in improving rural health care access across the Natural State.
The awards are split between two initiatives. The Telehealth, Health-Monitoring, and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (THRIVE) initiative will receive $55.7 million to modernize rural health care delivery by advancing telehealth technologies, strengthening emergency medical response capabilities, and deploying remote patient monitoring systems. Additionally, $93.6 million is allocated to the Promoting Access Coordination and Transformation (PACT) initiative, which focuses on bringing specialty care, trauma-ready services, preventive screenings, and telehealth into underserved areas while fostering regional collaboration and data-sharing among health providers.
In total, 50 projects were funded in this first round, including investments in rural hospitals, community health centers, emergency service providers, nonprofit organizations, and universities across Arkansas. These projects aim to expand access to specialty and maternal care, bolster behavioral health and emergency services, and upgrade health care facilities in rural areas.
"Arkansas’ rural communities are home to families who work hard, care for their neighbors, and deserve access to quality health care close to home," said Governor Sanders. "I’m proud that we are investing in stronger, healthier communities and building a better future for families across the Natural State."
The RHTP, managed by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), expects to distribute $209 million in grant funding by this fall. Over the course of five years, the state projects Arkansas will receive approximately $1 billion to fund the program. Future grants will be announced under the Recruitment Innovation Skills and Education for Arkansas (RISE Arkansas) initiative and the Healthy Eating, Active Recreation, and Transformation (HEART) initiative, according to DFA Secretary Jim Hudson.
"Just over a year ago, Governor Sanders tasked our RHTP steering committee with developing Arkansas’s RHTP plan to address poor health outcomes and the need for financial sustainability," Hudson stated.
The program’s initiatives aim to address critical health care gaps in rural areas by utilizing advanced technologies, supporting local health systems, and fostering collaboration among providers. Telehealth services, remote care options, and improved emergency response efforts are among the key improvements planned for rural communities.
This initial funding round reflects Arkansas’s commitment to building a resilient and equitable health care infrastructure for its residents, particularly in underserved areas.