Next Steps for the Rural Health Transformation Program
NC HIEA is partnering with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to implement the Rural Health Transformation Program and improve health care delivery for North Carolina’s rural communities.
Nearly 3 million residents across 85 counties live in rural areas in North Carolina, according to these criteria. Residents in these counties often face significant barriers to health care, including long travel distances, provider shortages, and lack of transportation options. These challenges can delay diagnoses, reduce access to timely treatment, and increase the risk of preventable complications and hospitalizations.
Providers in rural counties often face barriers in digital health, fragmented care delivery, and limited integration of clinical, behavioral, and social services. Financial instability is a challenge among rural hospitals and clinics, with closures and conversions threatening local access.
NC HIEA and NCDHHS seek to improve the quality of care for these communities through the following technology innovation goals:
Program Updates & Next Steps
To ensure NC HIEA’s technological health care interventions meet the needs of rural N.C. residents and provider communities, our team is prioritizing stakeholder engagement as we continue to build the RHTP. These activities include:
- NC HIEA is coordinating closely with NCDHHS to engage providers in the RHTP program planning process. A key activity will be the NC HIEA RHTP Steering Workgroup. These members will provide strategic input on program direction, review and offer feedback on program progress, and act as ambassadors to promote and support program goals among stakeholders.
- NC HIEA will be seeking provider champions to participate in an upcoming program. Providers who complete a full Participation Agreement (PA) and actively use at least two NC HealthConnex services in a live production environment will be eligible for selection. This initiative will highlight provider organizations that are leveraging health information exchange to improve care coordination and patient outcomes in North Carolina rural communities.
More information about these activities is forthcoming. Visit our website to stay informed. You can also contact the new lead of the RHTP for NC HIEA, Janet Oputa, at janet.oputa@nc.gov. Janet brings extensive experience in digital health transformation and health care access initiatives to NC HIEA’s work on RHTP.
Stevens Amendment Disclosure: This newsletter is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $213,008,356.47 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.