Minnesota Rural Health Transformation Program - Project Summary MN's plan for rural health transformation adopts a comprehensive, data-driven, coordinated approach that builds on strong partnerships and local priorities and uses emerging technology to improve provider financial sustainability and extend access to health care deeper into trusted rural settings. We envision a vibrant, collaborative, and technology-enabled rural health care system that ensures rural Minnesotans have access to the care they need when they need it, as close to home as possible. To achieve this, we have developed five RHTP goals, aligned with CMS strategic goals: 1. Improve health outcomes for rural Minnesotans with or at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (cardiometabolic disease). (CMS goal: Make Rural America Healthy Again) 2. Build education pathways and promote training opportunities in rural communities to sustainably expand the healthcare workforce in rural Minnesota. (CMS goal: Workforce Development) 3. Expand health care access in rural communities by creating new access points for community-based screenings, preventive care, and chronic disease management through technology-enabled care delivery, mobile care, and increased use of community-based frontline workers. (CMS goals: Sustainable Access, Make Rural America Healthy Again, Tech Innovation) 4. Strengthen partnerships between providers to enable delivery of expanded services in rural areas through shared learning, collaborative approaches, and advanced technology interventions. (CMS goals: Tech Innovation, Sustainable Access) 5. Strengthen and stabilize rural provider financial health through strategic investments in technology, data infrastructure, and collaborative mechanisms to address unique needs of rural providers. (CMS goals: Innovative Care, Sustainable Access, Tech Innovation) The Minnesota Department of Health is the lead and applicant organization. The total requested dollar amount for the five-year funding period is $1,000,000,000. Subrecipients may include all eligible rural hospitals, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), community mental health centers (CMHCs), certified community behavioral health centers (CCBHCs) and rural tribal Nations. A complete list of potential subrecipients is included in the budget narrative. MN will use RHTP funds to support the five initiatives below consistent with MN’s goals, each with a set of potential activities that providers may select to participate in: 1. Community-Based Preventive Care and Chronic Disease Management 2. Recruit and Retain Talent in Rural Communities 3. Sustain Access to Services to Keep Care Closer to Home 4. Create Regional Care Models to Improve Whole Person Health 5. Invest in Technology, Infrastructure, and Collaboration for Financial Viability RHTP funds will support these initiatives via a combination of grants to eligible rural providers to support technology and infrastructure improvements to allow providers to practice more efficiently and increase access to screenings and services; competitive grants to increase telehealth technology and use in rural areas, and provide EMS the ability to treat in place; grants to support expansion of clinical training and residencies in rural areas; and technical assistance to support practices to reach financial stability, among other activities.
