Video & Transcript Research : 'rural health transformation program'

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ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Joint Appropriations Jan 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Health Transformation Program.
  • The Rural Health Transformation Program.
  • health transformation program and they show Fargo and Bismarck, Burleigh, program and they show Fargo
  • This is rural health transformation plan. Because we don't have a say in this.
  • and Human Services for the Federal Rural Health Transformation Program grant funds, which means we have
Bills: HB1623
Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1624, the “Universal Lunch Bill,” from Rep. Mike Nathie. He argued the proposal should be placed in Century Code rather than the Constitution so future legislatures can adjust it if state finances tighten, and said the bill would start the program a year earlier with a $65 million appropriation for one school year. DPI testified that the estimate did not include nonpublic schools that do not participate, and members questioned the impact on Title I, free-and-reduced applications, private-school accountability, breakfast mandates for schools that do not currently serve breakfast, and whether the funding could come from the DPI budget or other sources. Supporters, including North Dakota United, the North Dakota Catholic Conference, a pediatrician, and the American Heart Association, said universal meals improve student health and learning, reduce family costs, and are better handled in statute than by constitutional amendment. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair closed the hearing for later work-session action. The committee then took up House Bill 1627, introduced by Rep. Tye Dressler, which would raise the income threshold for the state-funded school lunch program from 225% to 300% of poverty, with an estimated cost of about $7 million for 2026-27. Dressler said the bill is intended as a targeted, budget-friendly alternative to the ballot measure and emphasized that the state should maximize federal meal dollars while improving participation in the current program. Members questioned whether raising the threshold would actually increase utilization, whether a dollar amount would be clearer than a percentage, and how the change would affect federal reimbursements and application rates. DPI said it could quickly calculate additional percentage levels, and the chair closed the hearing, directing DPI to prepare more numbers for the work session. Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 2403, presented by Sen. Schiable, to create a short-term bridge-loan program for financially distressed hospitals, centered on Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin. The bill would authorize up to $5 million per loan, with a $10 million appropriation available on a first-come, first-served basis, and would run only through June 30, 2027. Schiable said the hospital’s debt and operating problems threaten local health care, ambulance service, and the community’s economy, and that the proposal was designed narrowly with Bank of North Dakota review to avoid creating a broad precedent. Committee members asked whether the appropriation could be reduced and whether the bank would still apply commercial feasibility and repayment standards; Schiable said yes, the bank would still evaluate the loan and could reject it if it was not sound.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Joint Appropriations Jan 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • To states for rural health care transformation.
  • The North Dakota Rural Health Transformation Program award in year one from the federal government was
  • health transformation program.
  • We have been doing what rural health care transformation dollars were.
  • We have been doing what rural health care transformation dollars were.
Bills: HB1623
Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1623, the appropriations bill tied to North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which is funded through a new federal rural health care grant. Senator Bekkedahl explained the bill’s background, the interim committee process that developed it, and the federal conditions attached to the award, including spending deadlines, administrative cost limits, and restrictions on uses such as new construction, supplanting existing funding, and certain other costs. Legislative staff then walked through the seven sections of the bill, including appropriation authority, transfer authority, contingent appropriations for pass-through grants, procurement and public improvement exemptions, recipient reporting, legislative reporting, and immediate effective date. Commissioner Traynor and HHS staff described how the department plans to implement the program, emphasizing that the funding is intended to improve rural access, workforce recruitment and retention, technology and data connectivity, and community health initiatives. They said the department will rely on local applications, technical assistance, templates, listening sessions, and partnerships with providers, schools, public health units, tribal entities, and other community groups. Members asked about reimbursement timing, upfront costs, administrative expenses, sustainability after the five-year grant period, and whether CTE centers, public health units, gyms, grocery stores, and other community partners could participate; the department said yes, within program rules and with a focus on measurable outcomes and sustainability. Several supporters testified in favor. Mental Health America of North Dakota and the Mental Health Advocacy Network supported the bill and urged investment in community-based mental health, crisis response, children’s services, peer support, and mobile crisis teams. HIA Health described the grant as a chance to expand home-based and hospice care, noting that rural providers already have workable models but need funding to scale them. A cybersecurity representative also supported the bill, warning that the large amount of health data and AI-related tools will require strong data protection and professional support. The hearing was closed with no opposition testimony, and the committee announced it would return later in the day for further work on the bill and other measures.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Committee, February 12, 2026 PM 2

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • ,<01:35:26.000><c> or</c><01:35:26.239><c> safety</c> health, or safety health, or safety as<01:35:28.239
  • > what</c><01:46:21.199><c> we</c><01:46:21.440><c> were</c> health safety today, what we were health
  • I'll just say we'll health and safety.
  • This is targeted mitigation program.
  • And so that leaves rural subdivisions.
Bills: HB0111, HB0112, HB0122
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Appropriations Committee, February 12, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • The first item on the agenda is Senate File 14, the literacy position for K-3 reading program.
  • The other one came through an amendment, and that was basically to set up, establish a grant program
  • The other one came through an amendment, and that was basically to set up, establish a grant program
  • The other one came through an amendment, and that was basically to set up, establish a grant program
  • Basically directed WID to stand up a grant program to look at backfilling the deficit only.
Bills: HB0111, HB0112, HB0122
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Committee, February 12, 2026 AM

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Final bill this morning, House Bill 122, Wyoming Rural Health Transformation Program.
  • House Bill 122, Wyoming Rural Health Transformation Program.
  • Number two, the bill authorizes what we call the rural health transformation perpetuity.
  • Number two, the bill authorizes what we call the rural health transformation perpetuity.
  • Do we have a roll call on House Bill 122, Wyoming Rural Health Transformation Program?
Bills: HB0111, HB0112, HB0122
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/26/2026 - House Health & Human Services

Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • health care transformation grant program.
  • This is the rural health care transformation grant program.
  • Health Transformation Fund to receive federal monies through the Rural Health Transformation Program
  • Health Transformation Program.
  • Why do we have a rural health transformation fund?
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Health Services (1-22-26)

Health Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • to give us an update on the rural health transformation program that we have probably heard a lot about
  • pleasure to be here to talk about the Rural Health Transformation Grant that we just received notice
  • This is our rural health transformation website.
  • This is our rural health transformation website.
  • Um, so Kentucky's a rural state, and we've got this money for the rural health transformation fund.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

House Floor Session Jan 23rd, 2026 at 09:00 am

North Dakota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill was introduced as part of the North Dakota Rural Health Transformation Committee relating to
  • This bill was supported by the Rural Health Transformation Committee and is essential to maintaining
  • an estimated $3.9 million for the five-year rural health transformation program.
  • This bill aligns directly with those values and our rural health transformation plan.
  • health transformation, federal big beautiful bill, specifically rural health transformation.
Summary: The North Dakota House convened in special session with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up several rural health-related bills. Senate Bill 2401, as amended, required physicians to complete one hour of continuing education in nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle and also added language allowing criminal history background checks for the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. Supporters emphasized the role of nutrition in reducing chronic disease, and the bill passed 92-0. The House then considered Senate Bill 2402, which expanded pharmacists’ limited prescriptive and therapeutic substitution authority for certain low-acuity conditions and clarified related lab-test and communication requirements. Members discussed examples such as motion sickness, cold sores, lice, hypoglycemia, COVID and flu testing, emergency access to medications and supplies, and limits excluding certain drug classes; the bill passed 91-1. Senate Bill 2403 created a temporary medical facility emergency operating loan option through the Bank of North Dakota for qualifying rural hospitals facing severe financial distress, with extensive debate over the targeted nature of the aid, anti-gifting concerns, repayment terms, and the hospital’s turnaround plan; it passed 80-12. Senate Bill 2404 appropriated funds for NDIT to address federal digital accessibility requirements and for the Public Service Commission’s litigation efforts related to transmission costs, with a backup loan authorization available if needed; it passed 92-0. At the close of the session, leaders thanked members and staff for their work on the rural health transformation package, a committee notified the Governor and the Senate that the House had completed its business, absent members were excused, and the House adjourned sine die.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

House Floor Session Jan 21st, 2026 at 08:30 am

North Dakota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The special session of the Legislative Assembly is convened to act on funding related to the Rural Health
  • Transformation Program.
  • Act on funding related to the Rural Health Transformation Program.
  • ensure North Dakota can swiftly accept and appropriate the federal funding to implement this vital program
Summary: The North Dakota House convened in special session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of communications from the Secretary of State and Governor Kelly Armstrong certifying the special session call. The governor’s executive order said the session was called to act on funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program so the state could accept and appropriate federal funds and avoid interruptions to government services. Three new members, Representatives McNally, Scraw, and Timmons, were sworn in, and the roll showed 91 members present, establishing a quorum. The main business was a Rules Committee report outlining temporary special-session rules. The changes were designed to speed up floor action, including allowing second reading the same day a bill is reported from committee, final passage one day after first reading, and immediate transmission to the other chamber unless reconsideration is noticed. The report also replaced the regular standing committee structure with two joint committees: Joint Appropriations and Joint Policy, allowed remote testimony and remote member participation with approval, and limited bill introduction to Legislative Management-approved bills or bills approved by a two-thirds vote. Several deadline changes for resolutions and bill filing were also described, with some provisions delayed until the special session ends. The House adopted the Rules Committee report after a motion by Representative Bosch and no opposition. During announcements, the clerk listed the membership of the Joint Appropriations and Joint Policy committees, and the Highway Patrol announced safety sessions for legislators in the Rough Rider Room at 11 a.m. that day and the next day. The House then recessed until the joint session scheduled for 10 a.m. the following day.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Committee, February 25, 2026 PM 1

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Rural health transformation funds, as you know, can go towards helping with regionalization and other
  • And so even if we spend rural health transformation funds to create a model, we still need to be able
  • </c><00:02:44.080><c> health</c> don't want to get the rural health don't want to get the rural health
  • Rural health transformation<00:02:48.319><c> funds</c><00:02:48.720><c> as</c><00:02:48.879><c> you</
  • ><c> funds</c><00:02:58.319><c> to</c> rural health transformation funds to rural health transformation
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Healthcare Committee Mar 17th, 2026

Healthcare

Transcript Highlights:
  • These are identical bills dealing with the rural health initiative monies come in.
  • </c><00:13:31.760><c> health</c><00:13:32.079><c> initiative</c> dealing with the rural health initiative
  • Members, as Senator Albert was talking about this rural health transformation act and the money that's
  • going to follow, we have $203 million in one-year funding for the transformation program.
  • Uh, we have not—the rural health transformation advisory group has not met since the initial meeting
Bills: SB367, SB368, SB350, SB351
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> World Health Transformation Program. World Health Transformation Program.
  • The health committee would have been a better place to place the rural health transformation program
  • The health committee would have been a better place to place the rural health transformation program
  • The health committee would have been a better place to place the rural health transformation program
  • health transformation program, the rural health transformation program, but<01:09:31.920><c> I've</c
Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services opened its first meeting of the 2026 interim session, took roll, and moved directly into presentations. The main presentation was from Ryan Bramble of Crisp Shared Services, who described the organization’s health information exchange and health data utility model in Kentucky and other states. He emphasized that Crisp is a nonprofit, that data ownership remains with providers, and that governance is local. He also outlined the technical infrastructure, including a master patient index, cloud-based data lake, support for modern standards like FHIR and USCDI as well as older formats, and data quality tools used to normalize and standardize information. Bramble said the model is intended to reduce duplication, lower costs, and support rural providers and future use cases such as reporting, analytics, and AI-enabled decision support. Members asked how the state can ensure the data is actually used and who should drive priorities for health care improvement. Bramble said Crisp can provide tools, expertise, and examples from other states, but local teams such as KHI and state stakeholders must tailor and lead utilization efforts. In response to questions about ownership and coordination, he stressed that successful HIE governance requires a multistakeholder body that includes hospitals, health plans, government, and other interests, with a unified approach rather than multiple competing directives. He also said the Commonwealth has an opportunity to convene those stakeholders and set clear priorities. A senator raised concerns that responsibility for Medicaid and broader health policy has become fragmented and suggested a stronger central role for the state, possibly through the Department of Public Health, to coordinate health priorities. Bramble agreed that a single convening authority and multistakeholder governance are important, and noted that local governance should determine what data is shared and how it is used. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the meeting. After Bramble’s presentation and questions, the committee was told that Secretary Stack from the cabinet would testify next on the rural health transformation plan.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • in rural health appropriates $50 billion in rural health transformation<00:15:05.680><c> grants</c><
  • Um, so the rural health transformation fund, do you view that in terms of just rural hospital facilities
  • So as rural health transformation plan.
  • ><c> but</c><01:00:54.799><c> we</c> rural health transformation plan, but we rural health transformation
  • , rural transformation, health care transformation, and the fund that's going to support that.
Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on July 30, 2025, approved the June 25 minutes, and received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislatures on Medicaid provisions in H.R. 1. The presentation outlined more than 20 Medicaid-related provisions, emphasizing that the largest federal savings come from work/community engagement requirements, changes to provider taxes, limits on state-directed payments, more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion populations, and related eligibility/enrollment changes. She said the fiscal effects are backloaded, with most reductions occurring in the later years of the 10-year window, and noted potential significant impacts on hospital payments and state financing. She also described new funding opportunities, including a $50 billion rural health transformation fund and a new home and community-based services waiver with associated grants. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on Kentucky’s pending community engagement 1115 waiver and how it would interact with the new federal requirements. Board members asked whether the waiver had been approved, what the cabinet’s contingency plan would be if CMS does not approve it, and what the timeline is for compliance. Cabinet representatives said the waiver has not yet been approved by CMS, remains under public comment, and that the state will wait for CMS guidance before moving forward; if needed, the state would amend the waiver or submit a new one. They said the work requirement must be in place by January 1, 2027, with a possible extension to 2028. Castanza also explained that expansion adults with incomes between 100% and 138% of the federal poverty level would face new cost-sharing requirements beginning October 1, 2028, and that eligibility redeterminations would move from annual to every six months starting January 1, 2027. She then walked through provider tax changes, including a moratorium on new provider taxes beginning October 1, 2026, and a phased reduction in the hold-harmless threshold for existing taxes beginning January 1, 2028, with exemptions for nursing facilities and ICF/IID providers. Board members questioned the timing and likely impact on Kentucky, and Castanza responded that the effect would depend on each tax’s current rate and would phase in over time.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations and Budget Health Subcommittee Feb 9th, 2026 at 04:30 pm

A&B Health Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:
  • As you know, the Rural Health Transformation Program is a five-year investment into rural health in our
  • professionals in rural Oklahoma.
  • marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, alcohol and drug counselors, behavioral Health
  • It's a request bill from the Department of Mental Health.
  • the proceeds of certain real estate sales, put them into a real estate trust at the Department of Health
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • The last we will look at is the rural health transformation program in terms of the update of the application
  • look at the rural health transformation program<00:02:58.560><c> uh</c><00:02:58.720><c> in</c><00:02
  • They're going to give us an update on the progress of the rural health transformation program.
  • So contained within the reconciliation bill, House Resolution 1, is a program for rural health transformation
  • The program would health transformation.
Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board met for its third meeting and approved the July 30 minutes. The chair outlined a full agenda covering the state-based marketplace versus the federally facilitated marketplace, connectors and navigators, presumptive eligibility, eligibility/enrollment/redetermination, and a rural health transformation update. Commissioner Lisa Lee and Assistant Director David Barry presented first on Kentucky’s state-based exchange, Connect, explaining that it is an integrated eligibility and enrollment system for Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, child care, and qualified health plans. They reviewed Kentucky’s move from a state-based exchange to healthcare.gov in 2017 and back to a state-based marketplace in 2021, and said the system helps route applicants to the correct program and allows families to move more easily between Medicaid and exchange coverage as circumstances change. The presenters said the exchange is funded by carrier assessments on qualified health plans rather than general fund dollars, with costs allocated across programs based on use. They said Kentucky’s exchange fees are lower than the federal platform’s and that the state-based system provides local assistance through DCBS offices, connectors, and licensed agents in every county. Members asked about startup and operating costs, fee-setting, and whether any general fund dollars are used; the department said it would follow up with the CFO on fee details and said it was not aware of general fund support for exchange operations. Members also raised concerns about Medicaid eligibility verification and improper enrollment, while the department emphasized that the state system uses different questions than healthcare.gov and is designed to identify the correct coverage based on monthly Medicaid income and annual tax-credit income. The board also discussed enrollment trends, including a COVID-era spike during the public health emergency when disenrollments were largely paused, and current qualified health plan enrollment of more than 97,000 people on Connect. Commissioner Lee explained presumptive eligibility as temporary Medicaid coverage, noting it applies to pregnant women and hospital-based cases, with hospitals able to grant it and certain providers able to grant it to pregnant women. She said full eligibility is still determined within 30 days and that presumptive eligibility ends when full Medicaid eligibility is determined or at the end of the following month. The meeting then shifted to connectors, with representatives from Community Action Kentucky and the Kentucky Primary Care Association describing their statewide outreach network, local offices, and role helping residents apply for Medicaid, renew coverage, report changes, and navigate benefits; they said connectors do not determine eligibility but assist with applications, recertifications, and outreach events across the Commonwealth.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget Apr 13th, 2026 at 04:30 pm

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the language, it's a pilot program.
  • House Bill 2110 requires the sitcom program pilot program to follow the same rules set by the agency
  • House Bill 4040 is the bill establishing the Rural Health Transformation Program and provides the framework
  • for the implementation of the federal rural health transformation program.
  • It provides the framework for the implementation of the federal rural health transformation program.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget 3rd Revised Apr 13th, 2026 at 04:30 pm

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 4040 is the Department of Health Rural Health Transformation cash flow flod yield for Tender
  • House Bill 4040 is the Department of Health Rural Health Transformation cash flow flod yield for Questions
  • So, once we're done with rural transformation, we get our $10 million back. Follow up.
  • Rural Oklahoma is certainly a great benefactor of that program.
  • Is this going to hurt that program that does films in rural Oklahoma? No, it will not.