WEEKLY UPDATE: 03/05/26
On Thursday, March 5, Governor Ned Lamont officially announced that Connecticut is receiving a $154 million federal grant through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), confirming the state funds announced by the notification Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in January. The governor made the announcement at a press conference at Generations Family Health Center in Willimantic.
The federal initiative is designed to empower states to strengthen rural communities by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem.
DSS will serve as the lead agency on behalf of the state, partnering with other state agencies to implement dozens of projects organized across four core initiatives, including population health outcomes, workforce, data and technology, and care transformation and stability.
“Rural Connecticut has unique challenges, and its residents deserve the same access to high-quality care and support as anyone who lives anywhere else,” Governor Lamont said. “This investment allows us to tackle those challenges head-on – from expanding mental health services and building a stronger health care workforce to modernizing our technology infrastructure and connecting residents to the services they need. This is about making sure every corner of Connecticut has the opportunity to thrive.”
CHA provided comment to the Department of Social Services (DSS) in October of last year to assist in the state’s development of its RHTP federal grant application. CHA urged 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.
CHA is supportive of the administration’s efforts to expand healthcare access through workforce initiatives and to maximize opportunities provided under Connecticut’s recently awarded RHTP grant.
CHA also recently submitted testimony on legislation related to the state’s participation in the RHTP. SB 93, An Act Implementing The Rural Health Transformation Program To Expand Health Care Access sets out to adjust statutory language so there is alignment with the federal requirements under the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). In its testimony, CHA offered recommendations to more narrowly tailor certain provisions of the bill to avoid potential unintended consequences. Read CHA’s testimony on SB 93 here.
Additional information about the Rural Health Transformation Program, including opportunities for public engagement, will be made available as implementation proceeds. Read the governor’s press release here.
Related news:
