Can Alabama’s New Plan Revitalize Rural Health Services?
As a mostly rural state, rural healthcare has always been a critical issue in Alabama. The concern has been exacerbated in recent years as counties from Pickens to Clarke have suffered closure of hospitals.
According to the Alabama Hospital Association 27 hospitals more hospitals are in danger of closing, with 19 at immediate risk. But there could be hope on the horizon. Governor Ivey on has announced Alabama’s plan for the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) has been submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
If approved, Alabama rural healthcare could get a big Christmas present this year. The $50 billion RHTP that passed congress as part of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act empowers states to strengthen rural communities across America by improving healthcare access, quality and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery system.
“As someone from Wilcox County, making meaningful improvements in how we deliver health care in rural Alabama is critically important to me. Thanks to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, states have an opportunity to make transformational change that will benefit citizens and communities for generations,” Ivey stated in a press release. “Making America Healthy Again begins in rural America, and I look forward to the state and federal governments working together to improve health care across the state.”
There are 11 initiatives in the program that is now under federal review:
- Collaborative Electronic Health Record (EHR), IT and Cybersecurity Initiative
- Rural Health Initiative
- Maternal and Fetal Health Initiative
- Rural Workforce Initiative
- Cancer Digital Regionalization Initiative
- Simulation Training Initiative
- Statewide EMS Trauma and Stroke Initiative
- EMS Treat-In-Place Initiative
- Mental Health Initiative
- Community Medicine Initiative
- Rural Health Practice Initiative
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Development (ADECA) will administer the ARHTP once funding is awarded by the end of this year.
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