By Marcia Kuszmaul
Homer Independent Press

Today, the Alaska Department of Health (DOH) holds the first of two informational webinars on the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and the application process for more than $272 million coming to Alaska for health care in 2026.

The first meeting is 10 to 11 a.m. today, Feb. 5, for those working in Emergency Medical Services systems and related organizations. The second meeting is 1 to 2 p.m., Feb. 10, for health care providers, tribes and tribal health organizations, community-based organizations, local governments, workforce and education partners, and others.

RHTP is a $50 billion, 5-year all-state initiative established through H.R.1 — the One Big Beautiful Bill — passed in July. The new funding was included in part to respond to some lawmakers who feared that major cuts to federal Medicaid funding would threaten the viability of rural hospitals.

With an annual allocation of $272 million, Alaska is second only to Texas in funding and could see up to $1.36 billion for rural health over the next five years. 

The webinars will share information on the RHTP, how the program will be structured and administered, and the process for submitting letters of intent and applications. Both require registration.

An application portal will be available in February with awards made in the spring with other opportunities for applications in each year of funding.

Local organizations have been quick to respond to the RHTP opportunity. In the fall, the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic (KBFPC) was part of a request for information to help shape the state’s application.

“We submitted a proposal to help the state understand what some of the needs and interests

 are in very rural areas of the state,” said Claudia Haines, KBFPC CEO. 

Haines foresees not only benefits to the state but to rural areas across the country.

 

“Not that we are exceptional, but when you figure out what can be done here, you can do it in a lot of places,” Haines said.

DOH has outlined six proposed initiatives for Alaska:

1. Investments in maternal and child health
2. Access to essential health services in rural, remote and frontier communities
3. Healthy lifestyles and preventive care
4. Innovative payment models to build a stronger, more sustainable health care system
5. Growth and support for skilled, resilient health care teams across Alaska
6. Updating technology and infrastructure to improve care and drive innovation
   
   

“Based on what has been shared to date, it seems the state will be allowing the communities to define their local needs, and defining healthcare broadly,” Derotha Ferraro, director of public relations at South Peninsula Hospital, said in a Feb. 3 email.

“I think the real exciting opportunity is the next round of funding, as that one will allow us time to work together with partners and submit a community-level application, based on results of recent health needs assessments,” Ferraro said. “We expect to start that process in early summer.” 

MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships), a health improvement coalition for the southern Kenai Peninsula, convened an initial meeting Jan. 28 to gauge local interest in the RHTP opportunity. A dozen people representing multiple organizations attended.

MAPP will hold another meeting after the Feb. 10 webinar and create a Google Form to capture details from local organizations to identify potential alignments and collaborations. Any group interested in learning more should email Hannah Gustafson at mappofskp@gmail.com.

“This is an opportunity to align various organizations and initiatives throughout the region,” Gustafson, MAPP coordinator, said in a Jan. 3 email. “Especially as they relate to transportation and primary prevention — two places where collaborative efforts are already underway.”

South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services and Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection also are planning to apply. 

In addition to local conversations, representatives from several local groups will participate in a borough-wide conversation Feb. 13 at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.