Louisiana oversight, Iowa adds a technical partner, and Oklahoma updates spending
Also: real data from Alaska LOIs-- advancers, vendors, and projects
In this issue:
Louisiana Senate formalizes oversight
Iowa adds technical assistance partner
Oklahoma updates subrecipient spenddown deadlines
Update on Alaska LOIs
Louisiana Senate formalizes oversight
A single Louisiana resolution this week directs the state health agency to account to the legislature for how it is implementing its RHTP award.
Louisiana SR198: A Senate resolution directing the Louisiana Department of Health to report to the legislature on its implementation of the Rural Health Transformation Program — the first formal legislative oversight hook on a federal award that ranks among the largest in the country. Louisiana drew $208,374,448 in Year 1 funding and is positioned to pull down well over $1 billion across the program’s five years, with state officials projecting roughly $1.4 billion over the full grant period. Red River Radio
The resolution lands on top of an executive-branch structure Gov. Jeff Landry built earlier this year. In April, Landry signed an executive order creating the Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability inside LDH and a Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Council that seats the chairs of the House and Senate Health and Welfare committees. SR198 gives the Senate a standing reporting requirement on top of that advisory seat, converting informal access into a documented deliverable LDH owes the legislature. WAFB
The reporting demand also tracks a fast-moving spending calendar. LDH has already opened public engagement through a Request for Information, launched a Rural Tech Catalyst Fund, and faces a deadline to commit an initial $20 million in rural health innovation dollars by September — pace that makes a legislative paper trail more than a formality. NOLA.com
SR198 cleared the Senate 36-0 on June 1 and was signed by the Senate President and transmitted to the Secretary of State on June 2, 2026 — final action for a simple resolution. LegiScan
Iowa adds technical assistance partner
(News to me)
Hometown Connections
An initiative that builds formal partnerships to restructure healthcare delivery options for rural communities. This includes an expansion of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Centers of Excellence Program and a rare opportunity to develop enhanced Health Hubs, or hub-and-spoke networks of care, with investments in telehealth, specialized medical equipment, provider recruitment and retention, efficient space utilization, and limited funds to support care for uninsured Iowans.
Health Hubs may include school-based service provision. This initiative also includes Best and Brightest, a sub-initiative to recruit and retain an excellent rural healthcare workforce.
For more information on the technical assistance available for this effort, see our contracted TA provider’s website. For questions, contact HealthHubs-TA@uiowa.edu
From their website:
The University of Iowa Health Care (UI Health Care) has been selected by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) to serve as the statewide Health Hub Technical Assistance (TA) Provider as part of Iowa’s Rural Health Transformation Program and the Healthy Hometowns initiative.
Through this role, UI Health Care provides training, resources, and guidance to support organizations interested in developing Health Hubs.
In Phase 1 (through October 2026), all organizations can participate in open educational sessions and access shared learning resources.
Before transitioning to Phase 2, Health Hub sites will be selected by Iowa HHS through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
In Phase 2 (beginning October 2026), selected Health Hub sites will receive individualized technical assistance and tailored support.
Oklahoma updates subrecipient spenddown deadlines
This is likely to be a super-hot topic come September when people are scrambling. Per email:
After further clarification from CMS regarding requirements for Budget Period One (BP1), the RHTP team is issuing an updated timeline for subrecipient spending and invoicing.
Budget Period One (BP1)
December 28, 2025 – October 30, 2026
To ensure OSDH compliance with federal deadlines:
All BP1 funds for Personnel, Fringe, and Travel must be spent by October 30, 2026
All other BP1 funds carry over and must be fully spent and invoiced by subrecipients by July 31, 2027
All BP1 funds must be drawn down by OSDH by September 30, 2027
These deadlines apply to all subrecipients funded under BP1, including future recipients of the currently open funding opportunities.
We recognize that this update will impact both established subrecipients and those applying for funding, and we thank you for your flexibility.
For established subrecipients, your program manager will reach out to discuss this update and address any questions or concerns you may have.
For the currently open funding opportunities, the RHTP team has updated the application documents on the funding page to reflect these revised deadlines. Applicants who have already submitted an application will be contacted by an RHTP team member to ensure they are aware of the change. Please note, Microgrants recipients are not affected by this change and must expend all funds by October 30, 2026.
