Governor Ayotte Participates in Call with CMS Administrator Oz on Rural Health Transformation Program

CONCORD, NH - Today, Governor Kelly Ayotte participated in a Governors' call with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz to hear what the agency is looking for in applications for the new Rural Health Transformation Program.

Administrator Oz called on Governors to engage key stakeholders and leverage partnerships to expand access to care in rural communities. CMS is looking for innovative proposals to deliver system improvements and cost-effective, sustainable health care access. This grant is about new ideas and new approaches to promoting health in our rural communities.

"I was glad to participate in today's Governors' call with Administrator Oz to discuss this critical opportunity to improve rural health care access in our state," said Governor Ayotte. "We have been actively engaging our rural hospitals, community health centers, rural providers, and the public with summits and meetings across the state to maximize our opportunity for federal funding, deliver real solutions for New Hampshire, and ensure every Granite Stater has access to high-quality health care close to home. I thank Administrator Oz and CMS for the opportunity to hear more about what they are looking for in applications."

If approved for the new grant, New Hampshire would receive critical funding to help strengthen rural health providers and hospitals, expand our health care workforce, and improve access to care for Granite Staters in rural areas. The Department of Health and Human Services continues to engage stakeholders as it prepares the grant application, and earlier this month, completed a Request for Information to seek public input.

Over the summer, Governor Ayotte met with Administrator Oz, as well as Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to personally advocate for New Hampshire to receive a share of this new grant funding.