WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 – Eleven states are proactively addressing gaps in post-acute care coordination,a critical step toward improving healthcare access for rural communities. These plans are part of a new program designed to bolster rural health systems across the country, and signal a meaningful investment in care that happens after a hospital stay.
Rural Health Transformation: States Step Up Post-Acute Care
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A $50 billion investment is fueling innovative approaches to rural healthcare.
- The Centers for Medicare & medicaid Services (CMS) awarded $50 billion to all 50 states over five years for rural health transformation.
- Funding was made available through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and expanded by the One Big Stunning bill Act.
- States submitted project abstracts detailing how they will utilize the funds, with a focus on improving post-acute care.
- Eleven states specifically outlined plans to address post-acute care coordination.
The submission window for the program ran from Sept. 15 to Nov. 5, with awards issued Dec. 29. States were required to submit project abstracts summarizing their proposed use of the funding and anticipated outcomes. What’s clear is that improving care transitions is a top priority for many states seeking to strengthen their rural healthcare infrastructure.
Expanding Access Through Innovative Models
Alaska is prioritizing the expansion and sustainability of post-acute care services throughout it’s rural communities via its Health Care Access initiative. Meanwhile, Alabama and Ohio are taking a different tack, planning to broaden EMS treat-in-place care models. This approach aims to reduce needless emergency department visits by enabling emergency medical services to treat patients with less severe conditions on-site or transport them to more appropriate care settings.
Hawaii is focusing on vulnerable populations, expanding its medical respite model to rural areas through the Rural respite Network.This program is designed to reduce preventable hospital readmissions among individuals experiencing homelessness or those needing post-acute care with low medical acuity. Indiana will dedicate funding to Innovative Care, a suite of patient-centered models intended to overcome barriers to accessing post-acute services.
Telehealth and Integrated Care Initiatives
Iowa is investing in the EMS Community Care Mobile initiative, which will leverage telehealth to provide care directly to rural communities and support high-risk transports. Mobile integrated healthcare teams will deliver a range of services, including prenatal, postpartum, post-surgical, and chronic disease management, directly in patients’ homes or at accessible local sites.
Mississippi is launching the CRIS initiative, a complete effort to integrate EMS, hospitals, public health agencies, and social services into regional healthcare districts. This integration aims to improve emergency response, post-discharge coordination, and access to behavioral health services. Nebraska will develop regional hub-and-spoke networks under its Regionalized Rural Access and Navigation program, fostering partnerships between local health departments, tribal organizations, rural hospitals, and clinics to enhance access to post-acute care.
Bringing Care Closer to Home
North Dakota’s Bring High-Quality Health Care Closer to Home initiative will deploy telehealth hubs,mobile clinics,and remote patient monitoring technologies. The state will also support new care coordination models and prioritize sustainability through workforce efficiencies and diversified funding streams. rhode Island is pursuing a two-pronged approach: improving accessibility for rural providers and community spaces, and expanding hospital-at-home care, allowing for acute care to be delivered in patients’ homes with remote monitoring and EMS support.
Virginia will invest in early-stage health technology, modernize electronic health records (EHRs), and expand remote patient monitoring through its CareIQ initiative. The state’s goal is to improve care coordination,reduce administrative burdens,and support the transition to value-based care.
All 50 state abstracts are available for review here.
