Making Rural Michigan Healthy Again. - Applicant Organization: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Subrecipients/Sub-awardees: Local health departments, rural health clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), hospitals, community-based organizations, universities, tribal governments, and other critical rural health partners (to be identified through a competitive subaward process). Total Budget Request: $1,000,000,000 Project Goals: • Establish sustainable partnerships that integrate health, human services, and community sectors across rural regions. • Increase access to primary, behavioral, and preventive care through a well-trained, supported workforce now and in the future. • Improve use of technical innovations that promote increased efficiencies, health data sharing and real-time referral capacity among rural providers among many other benefits. • Advance rural health by reducing gaps in access to care and essential supportive care by implementing care models that keep residents close to home. • Demonstrate measurable improvements in community well-being, system efficiency, and patient experience. Funds will be used to: • Support the development and strengthening of regional partnerships among rural hospitals, clinics, and community organizations to improve care coordination, align service delivery, expand access points and promote financially sustainable care models • Recruit and retain rural health professionals, behavioral health providers, and community health workers. Funds will also promote prevention and chronic disease management training and integrated behavioral health care access • Implement technology tools and advancing rural interoperability, including a rural technology catalyst fund to support expanding data exchange, and increasing adoption of telehealth, remote patient monitoring and technology-driven care coordination tools • Establish digital referral networks that connect residents to local care, prevention, and wellness resources needed to live healthy lives
