Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program
Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)
Oklahoma has officially secured $223.5 million for the first year of a five-year grant through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, part of a historic $50 billion federal investment authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The five-year program focuses on helping people get the care they need where they live, leading to a healthier, thriving state.
What happens next?
With funding now awarded, Oklahoma will begin phased implementation of RHTP initiatives across the state. Updates will be shared on this page as programs launch and more information becomes available.
Read below to learn what the program means for our state as Oklahoma begins this work.
You don’t have to repeat your story every time you see a doctor.
When clinics, hospitals and specialists use connected records, your test results, medications and history move with you. That means smoother visits, fewer repeat tests and safer care, even if you need help outside your hometown.
Care moves faster when it matters most.
For stroke, pregnancy complications or mental health emergencies, quick action saves lives. These investments help rural hospitals connect instantly with specialists so treatment can begin right away.
Getting to appointments is easier.
New ride scheduling tools and local driver programs make it simpler to get to care, helping people keep appointments and stay on track with follow-up visits.
More care is available close to home.
Services like behavioral health care, high-risk pregnancy support and more are available locally through telehealth, shared staff and better technology.
Communities gain more doctors, nurses and counselors.
These programs train local students, bring providers to rural towns and support them in staying long term, leading to shorter waits and stronger relationships with care teams.
Health care spending works smarter.
By sharing services, buying together and focusing on value-based care, clinics can operate more efficiently, helping local hospitals stay stable and care remain affordable.
Pregnant moms and babies get extra support.
Tools like home blood pressure monitoring, telehealth with specialists and better care coordination help spot concerns early and support healthy pregnancies and births.
Schools and kids are supported.
Investments in physical education, school-based health services and Medicaid billing help schools promote student health while keeping resources focused on learning.
Local hospitals stay strong.
With better staffing, technology and coordination, rural hospitals are better positioned to keep their doors open, support local jobs and continue serving their communities.
Bottom line:
For people living in rural Oklahoma, this means easier access to care, simpler visits, faster help in emergencies and more services available nearby.
- You don’t have to repeat your story every time you see a doctor.
- Care moves faster when it matters most.
- Getting to appointments is easier.
- More care is available close to home.
- Communities gain more doctors, nurses and counselors.
- Health care spending works smarter.
- Pregnant moms and babies get extra support.
- Schools and kids are supported.
- Local hospitals stay strong.
- Bottom line:
What does RHTP mean for Oklahoma?
This funding brings new resources to rural communities statewide. It supports easier access to care, stronger community partnerships, more local health workers and modern technology that helps providers connect and coordinate.
If you live in rural Oklahoma, this initiative shows up in real, everyday ways:
- Care is available closer to home
- Access to care is easier with ride assistance, mobile clinics, and virtual visits
- Emergencies are treated faster
- Pregnant moms and babies get extra support closer to home
- Behavioral health services are easier to access
- Local hospitals and clinics are more likely to stay open and will operate with new technology
Make rural America healthy again
Support rural health innovations and new access points to promote preventative health and address root causes of diseases. Projects will use evidence-based, outcomes-driven interventions to improve disease prevention, chronic disease management, behavioral health, and prenatal care.
Sustainable access
Help rural providers become long-term access points for care by improving efficiency and sustainability. With RHT Program support, rural facilities work together—or with high-quality regional systems—to share or coordinate operations, technology, primary and specialty care, and emergency services.
Workforce development
Attract and retain a high-skilled health care workforce by strengthening recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in rural communities. Help rural providers practice at the top of their license and develop a broader set of providers to serve a rural community’s needs, such as community health workers, pharmacists, and individuals trained to help patients navigate the healthcare system.
Who benefits?
Oklahoma envisions a future where every community—no matter how small or remote—has access to high-quality, locally grounded care that is connected through technology, supported by regional collaboration, and sustained by a strong rural workforce. Rural healthcare will remain financially stable, driven by innovation, and resilient for future generations.
Innovative care
Spark the growth of innovative care models to improve health outcomes, coordinate care, and promote flexible care arrangements. Develop and implement payment mechanisms incentivizing providers or Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to reduce health care costs, improve quality of care, and shift care to lower cost settings.
Tech innovation
Foster use of innovative technologies that promote efficient care delivery, data security, and access to digital health tools by rural facilities, providers, and patients. Projects support access to remote care, improve data sharing, strengthen cybersecurity, and invest in emerging technologies
Oklahoma’s Six RHTP initiatives
These areas reflect required federal programming and are the foundation of the state’s transformation plan. Details about each initiative and programs receiving funding can be viewed in the RHTP Initiatives Summary Packet.
- Innovating the Care Model
- Moving Upstream
- Growing the Next-Gen of Rural Talent
- Facilitating Regional Collaboration
- Shifting to Value
- Building Health Data Utility
Innovating the Care Model
Bringing care closer to home. This includes telehealth, transportation support, expanded care teams and investments in local health infrastructure.
Moving Upstream
Strengthening community-led prevention and wellness. This includes chronic disease prevention and management programs and supports that help people stay healthy.
Growing the Next Generation of Rural Talent
Building a stronger workforce pipeline. This includes “grow your own” initiatives, training placements and recruitment efforts that bring more providers to rural communities.
Facilitating Regional Collaboration
Helping local partners share resources and work together on operations, technology and coordinated care.
Shifting to Value
Supporting the transition to value-based care through technical assistance, infrastructure development and quality incentive programs.
Building Health Data Utility
Investing in technology that improves data sharing and care coordination, including EHR upgrades, interoperability and advanced analytics tools.
How Oklahoma Shaped the Plan
The RHTP plan reflects extensive outreach across the state to better understand needs, priorities and opportunities.
Engagement included:
- More than 400 responses to a statewide Request for Information
- Four listening sessions in regional communities
- Input from provider and professional associations
- Tribal consultation with more than 60 representatives
- Over 40 interviews with rural providers, educators, community groups and experts
- A cross-agency State Steering Committee that guided strategy and alignment
Local voices highlighted clear challenges: limited workforce, technology gaps, transportation barriers, chronic disease pressures and the need for more coordinated care. These insights shaped every part of Oklahoma’s application and final plan.
Committed to Long-Term Sustainability
RHTP is a five-year federal investment, but Oklahoma has designed every initiative with long-term impact in mind.
Sustainability strategies include:
- Billable services
- Provider-assumed costs
- Ongoing government funding
- Private funding
- One-time payments that support durable improvements
The goal is for communities to benefit long after this federal grant period ends, achieving a true rural health transformation.
This funding has been awarded through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a national initiative created under H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. For more information visit the CMS RHTP website.
Resources
Contact Information
Email: OklahomaRHTP@health.ok.gov
