North Carolina Expands Efforts to Enhance Rural Health Care with Federal Support
North Carolina is taking significant steps to enhance health care services in its rural communities, as the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) unveils a new dashboard. This platform provides insights into projects funded by the Rural Health Transformation Program, detailing the counties served, funding allocations, and project descriptions. This initiative follows an initial $100 million funding allocation by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to North Carolina for the second year of the program.
“We will continue to put these dollars to work for rural North Carolinians,” affirmed Governor Josh Stein. He emphasized the necessity for high-quality health care to be accessible close to home for every resident. By focusing on investments in people, services, and technology, the state aims to simplify health care access for families.
In its first year, the program laid the groundwork for a comprehensive five-year transformation plan, focusing on quickly deploying services and investments in rural communities. The second year aims to transition from planning to actual implementation across the state.
With over 3.5 million residents in rural areas, North Carolina ranks as having the second-largest rural population nationally. These communities face various health care challenges, including a shortage of providers, potential hospital closures, chronic health issues, and disparities in health care access and outcomes.
North Carolina promptly utilized all funds allocated in the first year to bolster the rural health care workforce, upgrade technology, and facilitate community connections to necessary care and support. The NCDHHS recently published an Annual Report, which includes an executive summary of the program’s first-year achievements.
“Our work is rooted in reaching people where they are,” stated NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. The state’s efforts align with its goal to transform rural health by utilizing program funds to ensure residents have nearby access to the health services they need.
The NC ROOTS Hubs will continue to spearhead local efforts in rural areas. Over the past months, Hub staff have collaborated with providers, community groups, and residents to assess and prioritize regional needs. These Hubs are set to fund projects and generate opportunities that effectively tackle local health care challenges.
Information on funding opportunities for the NCRHTP is available online. For ongoing updates and opportunities for engagement, individuals can subscribe to the NCRHTP newsletter.
The Rural Health Transformation Program was established by the federal government to support states in improving rural health care. The funding is intended for technology enhancements, workforce strengthening, and innovative care delivery models. During its first year, North Carolina received more than $213 million, with ongoing funding contingent on state progress and federal decisions.
Despite the benefits, the same federal legislation that initiated the program, H.R. 1, also reduces federal Medicaid funding, potentially resulting in North Carolina losing billions in health care funding over the next decade.
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