Rural Health Transformation: Connecticut Hospitals Advocate for Statewide Patient-Centered Investments

In response to the Connecticut Department of Social Services’ (DSS) request for public input on the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) federal grant application, the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) has submitted a comment letter urging state officials to develop a two-pronged approach that invests directly in rural hospitals as well as the broader network of clinical services that extend care to rural patients.  States must submit their proposals to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by early November.  CHA’s letter emphasized the importance of targeted investment in four major areas: workforce recruitment and retention, sustainable access, technology and innovation, and strengthening local and regional partnerships.

“As the state develops its application, we encourage a plan that invests both in rural hospitals and the broader technology infrastructure and clinical partnerships that help extend care into rural communities.  An effective transformation plan, in our view, would reflect the realities of Connecticut’s healthcare delivery system and take a statewide perspective that recognizes both the interdependence of care delivery and the critical contributions of all hospitals, including CMS-designated rural referral centers (RRCs) and other hospitals that routinely serve rural populations,” CHA wrote in the comment letter.

Connecticut’s highly integrated healthcare network positions both hospitals located within federally defined rural areas and those outside of strict geographic boundaries to play essential roles in delivering care to rural patients.  By strategically leveraging RHTP funds to support rural hospitals and harness the scalability of surrounding hospitals’ and health systems’ resources, Connecticut has a unique opportunity to grow the healthcare workforce, build technological infrastructure, and enhance patient access to primary and specialty care throughout the state.

Click here to read CHA’s comment letter.

RHTP Grant Application Requirements

The RHTP was established under Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21, or H.R. 1.  All 50 states can submit a one-time grant application to CMS.  Based on the federal law funding formula ($10 billion annually for five years, half split evenly across all states with approved applications and half allocated by CMS based on various factors), state officials anticipate that Connecticut, upon federal approval of the application, will receive at least $100 million per year for five years starting in 2026.

The state must submit a Rural Health Transformation Plan as part of its RHTP grant application, which must address the following topics:

• Improve access to hospitals, other healthcare providers, and healthcare items and services furnished to rural residents of the state
• Improve healthcare outcomes of rural residents of the state
• Prioritize the use of new and emerging technologies that emphasize prevention and chronic disease management
• Initiate, foster, and strengthen local and regional strategic partnerships between rural hospitals and other healthcare providers to promote measurable quality improvement, increase financial stability, maximize economies of scale, and share best practices in care delivery
• Enhance economic opportunity for, and the supply of, healthcare clinicians through enhanced recruitment and training
• Prioritize data and technology-driven solutions that help rural hospitals and other rural healthcare providers furnish high-quality healthcare services as close to a patient’s home as possible
• Outline strategies to manage long-term financial solvency and operating models of rural hospitals in the state
• Identify specific causes driving the accelerating rate of stand-alone rural hospitals becoming at risk of closure, conversion, or service reduction