New Hampshire Secures Largest Rural Health Grant Award in New England for Second Year

CONCORD, NH - Governor Kelly Ayotte today announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded New Hampshire $204,312,551 for the second year of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The award is an increase over New Hampshire's first-year award and brings New Hampshire's total Rural Health Transformation funding to more than $408 million over the program's first two years.

"New Hampshire has once again secured the largest Rural Health Transformation award in New England, with an increase in funding from last year," said Governor Ayotte. "This is a testament to the incredible work done through GO-NORTH and DHHS to put our first year of funding into action as quickly as possible and the partnerships we have built with our providers, community health and mental health centers, and our community colleges and universities. We're ready to continue New Hampshire's bold effort to expand access to high-quality, innovative, and affordable care for every Granite Stater."

"The Trump Administration's $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program gives states the resources and flexibility to bring care closer to home and build stronger, more sustainable health care systems for their rural communities," said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. "As the program enters its second year, this next round of funding will help New Hampshire build on the progress made in year one and continue working toward lasting improvements in access, quality, and health outcomes for rural communities."

Unlike the first year, Year 2 awards were determined in part by each state's progress implementing its CMS approved rural health transformation plan. All 50 states submitted annual progress reports, which CMS reviewed in setting second-year funding levels.

"GO-NORTH's first year was about building a strong, accountable foundation, and this Year 2 award reflects CMS's confidence in New Hampshire's approach," said Donnalee Lozeau, Director of GO-NORTH. "We have invested more than $11 million in rural emergency medical services and Mobile Integrated Health, and launched investment opportunities in rural primary care, school-based oral health, rural hospitals, youth and adult health care workforce education, rural home health, children's behavioral health access, and community mental health. We have been able to accomplish this work in close partnership with our five GO-NORTH Hubs - the Foundation for Healthy Communities, the Community College System of New Hampshire, the University System of New Hampshire, Community Development Finance Authority, and New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association. This Year 2 award will allow us to build on that progress and issue additional awards over the next year."

Over this first year, GO-NORTH has worked closely with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to support the long-term sustainability of rural health transformation investments, including investments to expand access to services for children with complex behavioral health needs, expand access to integrated behavioral health at the State's community mental health centers, and implementing innovative care and payment models in Medicaid to support long-term access to essential hospital and primary care services in rural New Hampshire.

"This transformational award highlights the ongoing partnership of GO-NORTH, DHHS and our community partners working together to ensure the health of all Granite Staters, wherever they live," said DHHS Commissioner Lori Weaver. "As we enter year two, this critical funding will allow us to continue the work of strengthening the healthcare workforce, expanding access to primary and behavioral health care, and making innovative technology more readily available to support the health and wellbeing of rural New Hampshire communities for years to come."

More information about GO-NORTH and New Hampshire's Rural Health Transformation plan is available at gonorth.nh.gov.