Rural Health Transformation Program Application

Massachusetts submitted an application to the Rural Health Transformation Program through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS).

EOHHS led an interagency team to develop the application, including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), the Massachusetts Medicaid program (MassHealth), DPH’s Office of Rural Health, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development’s Office of Rural Affairs, and input from other agencies throughout state government.

Through longstanding relationships with key stakeholders and pre-established processes and groups to support direct engagement, the team held early engagement sessions with our state’s rural hospitals, rural federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), rural social service organizations, rural community-based organizations, and the Massachusetts Rural Council on Health. Additionally, the Commonwealth facilitated direct input for the application from trade associations, as well as organizations representing local administrators and municipalities throughout rural Massachusetts. 

To ensure broad opportunities for input throughout the Commonwealth, EOHHS also posted a public Request for Information, which received responses from rural organizations, healthcare providers, social service organizations, rural municipalities, technology companies, expert consultants, non-profits, businesses, and educational providers.   

The RHTP application reflects a broad spectrum of input from partners across the state and is structured around seven Initiatives, each of which contains numerous activities, to transform rural healthcare in Massachusetts:

1. Population Health Advancement
2. Innovation in Rural Care Models
3. Training Healthcare for Retention, Innovation, & Excellence (THRIVE)
4. Healthy Rural Communities
5. EMS Service Integration
6. Enhancing Technology Interoperability and Connectivity
7. Facility Modernization & Re-Use

For more information about our specific initiatives, see About the Rural Health Transformation Program or the Massachusetts Application.

 

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