Arkansas Submits Application for Rural Health Funding
On Friday, October 31, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration have submitted the state’s application for funding under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a federal initiative established through President Donald Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill.
The Rural Health Transformation Program will distribute $50 billion to states over the next five years to strengthen healthcare in rural communities. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will determine individual state awards by December 31. Arkansas could receive more or less than the amount proposed in its application. The first round of funding is expected to be disbursed in early 2026.
Arkansas’s application incorporated input from a wide range of stakeholders, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, higher education institutions, community-based nonprofits, and other healthcare providers across the state.
The proposal centers on four overarching initiatives:
- Healthy Eating, Active Recreation, and Transformation
- Promoting Access, Coordination, and Transformation
- Recruitment, Innovation, Skills, and Education for Arkansas
- Telehealth Monitoring and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion
All four initiatives aim to leverage the latest developments in healthcare technology, including patient-centered artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.
Howard Memorial Hospital CEO Stacy Harberson confirmed that HMH submitted a proposal to the state, which was incorporated into Arkansas’s overall application.
In addition to its federal funding request, Arkansas has dedicated $45 million to promote maternal health. Senate Bill 59 requires schools to provide one free breakfast per school day and supports a farm-to-school pilot program supplying students with fresh, locally grown produce.
The state has also banned the use of food stamp benefits for purchasing soft drinks and candy as part of its broader efforts to encourage healthy nutrition among residents.