Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), has officially submitted Arkansas’ application for funding under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a national initiative created by President Donald J. Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill.
The program will distribute $50 billion over the next five years to states working to strengthen rural healthcare systems. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will determine each state’s funding allocation by December 31, 2025. The first round of funding is expected to be disbursed in early 2026.
“Improving the health and well-being of all Arkansans is a top priority for my administration,” said Governor Sanders. “Thanks to President Trump and his One, Big, Beautiful Bill, the Rural Health Transformation Program will allow us to build on our work—investing in maternal health, combating food insecurity, and promoting better health and nutrition statewide. This funding will expand access to care and reduce inefficiencies, benefiting Arkansans in rural communities across the state.”
Collaboration and Statewide Input
Jim Hudson, Secretary of the DFA, emphasized the broad collaboration that shaped the application.
“With a focus on education, prevention, and access to care, this program will transform the health of generations of Arkansans,” Hudson said. “Governor Sanders’ leadership and vision guided this process, and I’m grateful for the teamwork of ADH Secretary Renee Mallory, DHS Secretary Janet Mann, Dr. Ted Brown from the State Crime Lab, and Dr. Kay Chandler, Arkansas’ Surgeon General. Their expertise ensured the application reflected our state’s unique healthcare needs.”
The state’s application incorporated input from healthcare stakeholders across Arkansas—including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations. Over 300 ideas were also submitted through an online public portal established by the Governor. Members of the Arkansas General Assembly provided feedback throughout the process.
Four Core Initiatives in Arkansas’ Application
Arkansas’ proposal focuses on four primary initiatives designed to improve access, efficiency, and quality of care in rural communities:
Healthy Eating, Active Recreation, and Transformation (HEART) – Aims to enhance nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease management through community-driven health programs.
Promoting Access Coordination and Transformation (PACT) – Expands telehealth, trauma-ready services, and integrated specialty care while improving regional healthcare collaboration.
Recruitment Innovation Skills and Education for Arkansas (RISE AR) – Strengthens the rural healthcare workforce through expanded residencies, recruitment incentives, and leadership training for local healthcare providers.
Telehealth Health Monitoring and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (THRIVE) – Leverages AI-driven healthcare technology for patient monitoring, telemedicine expansion, and modernization of emergency medical services.
Each initiative will utilize cutting-edge healthcare technology and data-driven analysis to ensure measurable improvement and long-term sustainability in rural health outcomes.
Building on Arkansas’ Health and Nutrition Reforms
Governor Sanders has championed several major health initiatives since taking office, including:
Signing the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, directing $45 million toward maternal health programs.
Passing SB59, which ensures all Arkansas public school students receive a free breakfast daily.
Launching a farm-to-school pilot program connecting students with locally grown, nutritious produce.
Eliminating taxpayer-funded soft drinks and candy from the state’s food stamp program.
Implementing cell phone bans in schools and promoting outdoor recreation through the Natural State Initiative, led by Governor Sanders and her husband, Bryan Sanders.
Arkansas’ full application to CMS for the Rural Health Transformation Program is available for public download.
For more information, visit the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration website.
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