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Hawaii awarded $188.9 million federal Rural Health Transformation grant; legislators press for sustainability and uninsured access
Summary
State officials briefed the House and Senate committees on the Rural Health Transformation Program’s $188,892,439.75 first-year award, six priority initiatives and CMS oversight. Lawmakers pressed presenters on long-term sustainability, asset maintenance and a statutory 15% cap on provider payments for uninsured services.
Hawaii announced a first-year federal award of $188,892,439.75 for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) during a joint informational briefing of the House Committee on Health and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on March 6.
"The state of Hawaii received $188,892,439.75," said Lauren Kim, legislative coordinator in the Office of the Governor, who outlined the cooperative-agreement structure and the need for close federal oversight by CMS.
The briefing presented six priority initiative areas funded by the grant: a workforce pipeline ("Home Run") led by the University of Hawaii JABSOM; a Rural Health Information Network to expand electronic health records and data analytics; a Rural Value-Based Initiative to prepare providers for alternative payment models; a statewide telehealth program (PD OLA); a Rural Infrastructure for Care Access (RECA) hub focused on EMS, trauma and mobile clinics; and a five-site rural respite network run by the Department of Human Services.
Jack Lewin, administrator of SHPTA, described the information-network hub as a major investment…
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