There’s more time to submit your rural health input

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 08/28/2025 01:50 PM PDT

August 28, 2025

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More time to shape the future of health care in rural Washington

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the application deadline for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is early November.

Now that we know the timeline, we’re extending our due date for RHTP input to Friday, September 26.

Please submit your ideas as early as possible. We process ideas as we receive them, and we hope to have a clear picture of Washington’s rural community priorities by early September.

We’ll keep updating our RHTP webpage as we hear from you and learn from CMS.

Send your input to the HCA Paying for Value team

RHTP background

Under H.R. 1, the federal government is offering $50 billion RHTP funding to help improve rural health care across the country. Our agency and our partners at the Departments of Health (DOH) and Social and Health Services (DSHS) are developing Washington state’s RHTP application.

We want your input. We’re looking for inclusive approaches that meet the needs of Washington’s rural communities:

Projects with an implementation plan that are ready to launch soon
Input about community needs and regional trends
Recommendations for leveraging RHTP funds
Initiatives to transform rural health care delivery
Opportunities to support workforce, infrastructure, and technology

If you, your team members, or partners, Tribes, stakeholders, or community members have ideas for improving health care in rural Washington, we want to know. Please share this opportunity with anyone who wants to help.

What to include in your email

Please share your ideas, insights, considerations, project concepts, and other information with us, including how they align with the goals of RHTP.

If submitting a written response, limit your response to 10 pages or less. Slides or other formats are also welcome.

What we’re hearing so far

Our RHTP application is taking shape with input from community members like you. In the past month, we’ve heard a wide range of priorities:

Sustainable reforms to the care delivery system
Workforce programs to grow, attract, and retain teams
Patient programs to improve prevention, chronic disease management, and aging in place
Investments in infrastructure technologies

Help us build on these ideas or share new ones. We look forward to your email.

Learn more about RHTP

RHTP offers an opportunity for Washington state to support health care transformation and meet the unique needs of rural communities.

You find more information on our RHTP webpage.

About the Health Care Authority (HCA)

Functioning as both the state's largest health care purchaser and its behavioral health authority, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is a leader in ensuring Washington residents have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

There are three pillars of our work: Apple Health (Medicaid); the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs; and behavioral health and recovery. Under these pillars, HCA purchases health care, including behavioral health treatment for more than 2.7 million Washington residents and provides behavioral health prevention, crisis, and recovery supports to all Washington residents.

Please do not reply directly to this message. For more information, visit the HCA website, where you'll also find contact information.

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Nondiscrimination

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) complies with all applicable federal and Washington state civil rights laws and is committed to providing equal access to our services. Visit HCA’s website to view complete nondiscrimination statements.

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