NC Rural Health Transformation Program
Helping Rural Providers Connect to NC HealthConnex
As part of the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the N.C. Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA) are partnering to support rural health care providers across the state in connecting to the state-designated health information exchange, NC HealthConnex.
Through this program eligible rural providers may have access to support that could help reduce the costs and technical barriers often associated with connecting to NC HealthConnex. This effort is part of a broader commitment to strengthen rural health care delivery, improve care coordination, and help providers access the information they need to better serve patients in their communities.
About the Program
The federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), established under the H.R.1 awards states funding to further initiatives that will improve health care access, quality, and outcomes in rural communities. North Carolina was awarded over $213 million for the first year of implementation of the program.
To create innovative solutions for the unique challenges faced by rural health care providers, the NC HIEA will focus on the specific goal of Technological Innovation, one of the six strategic goals of NCRHTP. This includes:
- Improving rural provider connectivity to NC HealthConnex
- Increasing rural provider usage of AI clinical decision support tools
- Increasing rural provider capacity for emerging technologies
- Improving rural resident engagement
For many providers, especially those in rural communities, connecting to a health information exchange can involve technology costs, vendor coordination, staff time, and training. This program is intended to help make that process more manageable by offering support for certain one-time activities related to NC HealthConnex connection, onboarding, and adoption.
The goal is to help rural providers move forward with data sharing in a way that supports better care coordination, improved patient outcomes, and stronger connections across North Carolina’s health care system.
Why Connection Matters
NC HealthConnex allows participating health care providers to securely access and share important patient health information. This can help providers make more informed care decisions, reduce duplication, improve transitions of care, and better coordinate services across different care settings.
For rural providers, access to timely and accurate patient information can be especially valuable. Many rural communities face challenges related to provider shortages, transportation barriers, limited specialty care access, and fragmented care. Connecting to NC HealthConnex can help providers close information gaps and support more connected, coordinated care for the patients they serve.
How to Get Started
Rural providers interested in participating should contact the program team for more information.
After your information is submitted, the program team will review your organization’s details and follow up regarding next steps. This may include confirming eligibility, reviewing your NC HealthConnex connection status, discussing electronic health record (EHR) readiness, identifying potential support needs, and outlining the steps required to move forward.
Have Questions???
NCDHHS and NC HealthConnex are committed to helping rural providers strengthen care coordination and expand secure health information sharing across North Carolina.
Providers who are interested in learning more about the Rural Health Transformation Program are encouraged to reach out today to RHTP.HIEA@nc.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a federal program authorized under H.R. 1 in July 2025 that provides five years of funding to states to support rural communities in improving health care access, quality, and outcomes. The program is a cooperative agreement designed to help states transform rural health care delivery systems by investing in innovation, infrastructure, partnerships, and workforce development.
The N.C. Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA) is partnering with the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) as a key stakeholder for achieving technology-related goals in North Carolina’s implementation of the RHTP. Specifically, NC HIEA will work to build technical capacity and infrastructure in identified rural communities, including 170+ integrations between rural providers’ Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems and NC HealthConnex, the state-designated health information exchange, in the first two years of the program. NC HIEA will also focus on furthering utilization of NC HealthConnex services in rural communities by providing tailored training and hands-on technical assistance aimed at meeting the unique needs of rural providers and their EHRs.
Funding will be available to certain rural NC HealthConnex participants to assist with one-time NC HealthConnex integration and adoption costs upon successful connection within the funding period. Rural provider integrations will be prioritized based on population health impact criteria, rural populations served, demonstration of engagement, and place in NC HIEA’s connection queue. NC HIEA will coordinate closely with NCDHHS and engage with rural providers and stakeholder organizations to ensure program planning is informed by deep engagement with the communities involved.
The NC RHTP will provide funds that can be used to offset electronic health record (EHR) vendor fees and other costs associated with connection once a participant successfully completes onboarding and related program criteria. The amount of funds will vary per participant depending on interface/service type and average, related work effort. These funds are intended to assist with one-time technical and workflow-related expenses incurred to connect to NC HealthConnex.
Stevens Amendment Disclosure: This webpage is supported by the Centers for Medicare and 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% 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.