CMS posts Reporting & Rescoring slides, Colorado Advisory debates program design, & Legislative Update
Rural Health Transformation Program Daily Brief, March 13, 2026
CMS posts Reporting and Rescoring Webinar slides from Feb 25, 2026
Colorado published minutes from its first adivisory committes meeting
The cooperative agreement with CMS is still being negotiated and the budget is still being adjusted. Interesting discussion about how to improve collective impact.
The sharpest exchange came around payment incentives — a $40 million annual line item structured as $10,000 grants to roughly 4,000 providers. One committee member, a deputy chief from a rural ambulance district, put it bluntly: “Almost anywhere in healthcare, $10,000 will not buy anything — salary, portable lab analyzer, etc.” But rather than arguing for bigger individual checks, the member proposed something more structural:
“We may have an opportunity with these funds to create regionally collaborative efforts in rural areas that integrate hospitals, public health, private home care, behavioral health.” The pitch was to make the grants bigger and “require multiple community partners to apply together” — what the member called collective impact.
A health system CEO agreed, arguing that rural providers need to “aggregate enough lives to enter into advanced payment models” and that existing structures like ACOs and Clinically Integrated Networks could serve as the vehicle. “If an association/consortium can come together and apply, impact will be bigger.”
Another member cautioned that adding intermediary layers can increase overhead and redice money that dircetly impacts patient outcomes.
The formal proposal that emerged: reduce the number of grantees, increase the funding per award, focus on collaborative models, and provide data to help direct the investment.
More to come— their next meeting is St. Patrick’s Day.
Legislation watch
AK HB289
https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB289
Last update: Returned to Rules Committee · Status: Passed One Chamber · RETURNED TO RULES COMMITTEE Y21 N19
Alaska House Bill 289 is a supplemental appropriations measure that includes funding associated with the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The bill appropriates funds to multiple state agencies for fiscal year 2026, including allocations to the Department of Health. Within the bill text, federal funding provided through Public Law 119-21 for the Rural Health Transformation Program—estimated at approximately $272,174,855.72—is appropriated to the Alaska Department of Health for fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and related program periods. The legislation therefore functions as the state budget mechanism that receives and distributes the federal Rural Health Transformation Program award within Alaska’s operating budget framework.
KY HCR113
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hcr113.html
Last update: Reported favorably and placed on Calendar · Status: Introduced · reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
Kentucky House Concurrent Resolution 113 establishes the Rural Health Transformation Task Force within the Kentucky General Assembly. The resolution directs the task force to study issues related to rural health care transformation in the Commonwealth. Its responsibilities include examining the condition of rural hospitals and health systems, reviewing workforce shortages in rural areas, evaluating health care delivery models and telehealth expansion, and identifying policy strategies to strengthen access to care in rural communities. The task force is composed of legislators and representatives from relevant agencies and health stakeholders and is directed to produce findings and recommendations for the General Assembly concerning strategies to transform rural health care systems in Kentucky.
MS HB1067
https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1067.xml
Last update: Returned for Concurrence · Status: Passed One Chamber · Returned For Concurrence
Mississippi House Bill 1067 addresses administration of the Rural Health Transformation Program in Mississippi. The bill authorizes the selection of vendors and entities responsible for providing services and support for the program. The legislation establishes procedures for identifying and contracting with organizations that will assist with program implementation, oversight, and operational activities connected to the state’s rural health transformation initiative. By authorizing these vendors and implementation partners, the bill provides a statutory framework for carrying out program activities intended to support rural health system improvements and services within Mississippi.
OK HB3975
http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb3975&Session=2600
Last update: Referred for Engrossment · Status: Introduced · Referred for engrossment
Oklahoma House Bill 3975 establishes the Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program within the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The bill identifies the Department of Health as the lead agency responsible for administering the program and outlines collaboration with designated partner agencies. It defines the purpose of the program as supporting initiatives intended to improve health care access, services, and system capacity in rural areas of Oklahoma. The legislation authorizes the Department to coordinate program activities, work with partner organizations, and implement program initiatives intended to support rural health care infrastructure and delivery across the state.