Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas is poised to make a historic leap in rural healthcare after Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that the state has been awarded $208,779,396 for Fiscal Year 2026 through President Trump’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The program, established under the administration’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill, aims to revitalize healthcare delivery in rural communities nationwide, and Arkansas is set to be among the first states to implement its ambitious vision.
“Today’s announcement shows that President Trump and his administration place a priority on improving rural health and Making America Healthy Again,” Governor Sanders said. “Our state went above and beyond in the application process to secure an outsized portion of the funds available through the Rural Health Transformation Program because we know that Arkansas’ smaller communities deserve just as much support as any other region of our state. I’m excited to get to work quickly on Arkansas’ innovative approach to this program and deliver the care our people deserve.”
The RHTP is a five-year initiative administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which will distribute a total of $50 billion across all 50 states with the goal of strengthening rural healthcare systems. Arkansas’ initial allocation marks the first-year award under the program, with additional funding rounds to be announced in the coming years.
Arkansas’ application for RHTP funding was a collaborative effort, drawing input from physicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, higher education institutions, community-based non-profits, and other stakeholders. Governor Sanders also opened an online portal inviting Arkansans to submit ideas for the use of these funds, resulting in more than 300 proposals from across the state. Feedback from members of the Arkansas General Assembly further helped refine the application, ensuring the plan would address both systemic and community-specific needs.
The state’s approach focuses on four key initiatives designed to reshape rural healthcare delivery in Arkansas. The first, Healthy Eating, Active Recreation, and Transformation (HEART), seeks to improve health outcomes through coordinated community-driven programs promoting nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease management. By integrating prevention and wellness into daily community life, HEART aims to reduce long-term healthcare costs while empowering residents to take control of their health.
The second initiative, Promoting Access Coordination and Transformation (PACT), focuses on integrating specialty care, preventative screenings, telehealth services, and trauma-ready facilities into rural communities. By fostering locally-driven clinically integrated networks, PACT will improve operational efficiency, enhance data sharing, and encourage regional collaboration among healthcare providers. The initiative also emphasizes equitable access, ensuring that remote populations receive high-quality care without traveling long distances.
Workforce development is central to Arkansas’ plan, addressed through Recruitment Innovation Skills and Education for Arkansas (RISE AR). This program aims to attract and retain healthcare professionals in rural areas by expanding physician residencies and clinical training programs. RISE AR also provides leadership and governance training for hospital and clinic administrators, ensuring that local healthcare institutions are prepared to navigate transformative changes. By building a skilled and resilient workforce, the program hopes to secure sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery throughout Arkansas.
The fourth initiative, Telehealth Health Monitoring and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (THRIVE), leverages emerging technologies to improve patient care. THRIVE plans to implement AI-driven tools for coordinated patient records, expand telehealth platforms, and provide technology-enabled monitoring for chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. The program will also modernize emergency medical transport and services, creating a more responsive system for rural populations in crisis. Funding allocations for each initiative will be announced at a later date.
Governor Sanders’ administration has already demonstrated a commitment to improving health outcomes in Arkansas through complementary measures. Earlier this year, she signed the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, directing $45 million toward maternal health initiatives. She also signed SB59, requiring all public schools in Arkansas to provide a free breakfast daily to all students, regardless of federal meal eligibility. Additionally, the administration launched a farm-to-school pilot program to provide fresh produce to students, promoted outdoor recreation through the Natural State Initiative, and took steps to reduce unhealthy food options in state nutrition programs.
These existing initiatives, combined with the federal RHTP award, position Arkansas to make transformative strides in rural healthcare, addressing both immediate medical needs and long-term health outcomes. The comprehensive strategy emphasizes prevention, community engagement, workforce development, and technology-driven innovation, ensuring that residents in every corner of the state have access to high-quality healthcare.
With this new federal funding, Governor Sanders and her administration plan to act quickly to implement these programs, building a healthier, more resilient Arkansas. “We know that our rural communities are the backbone of our state,” she said. “With this funding, we are taking bold steps to ensure every Arkansan, no matter where they live, has access to the care they need and the resources they deserve.”
As Arkansas prepares to roll out these programs over the next year, the state stands as a model for how targeted federal investment, community engagement, and innovative strategies can combine to tackle longstanding healthcare disparities. The Rural Health Transformation Program represents a historic opportunity to strengthen the state’s healthcare system, improve the lives of its residents, and create a foundation for lasting, sustainable health outcomes in Arkansas’ rural communities.
