Valued Voice

On February 3, the state health department announced it is now accepting applications to serve on Wisconsin’s Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program Advisory Council.

The Department of Health Services (DHS) said in its announcement that the agency is seeking qualified applicants who provide services in rural hospitals and other rural facilities, providers who practice in rural communities and people who receive care in rural Wisconsin. 

The deadline to complete and submit an application to DHS is Friday, February 27.

Authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the RHT Program is a competitive five-year, $50 billion federal funding opportunity available to all states to strengthen and support rural health care. 

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in December that it had awarded Wisconsin $203.7 million for the first year of the program.

In its application for rural health transformation funds, DHS proposed investing $945 million over five years in three broad initiatives to strengthen the rural health care workforce, drive rural technology and innovation and transform rural care through partnerships. DHS’ application set aside the remaining $55 million for administration and evaluation.  

DHS said the state’s RHT Program Advisory Council will provide strategic guidance to the agency as part of the state’s implementation of the program.

“This council offers an opportunity to contribute to shaping how rural health priorities are addressed, bringing diverse provider, community, and lived experience perspectives to the table,” said DHS.

The council will include 17 to 20 members who will be appointed by the DHS Secretary, “with an emphasis on ensuring geographic diversity and a range of perspectives from communities across the state,” according to the agency’s announcement. 

More information about Wisconsin’s RHT Program can be found on the DHS website here.