The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) promises to expand access, strengthen the workforce, modernize care, and test new delivery models. But in practice, it leaves out a critical part of the rural health system: community health centers (CHCs).

CHCs are the largest primary care network serving rural and underserved communities, yet RHTP includes no dedicated funding or requirement to ensure they are part of state implementation plans. That means CHC participation is left entirely to state discretion—setting the stage for uneven outcomes and missed opportunities to strengthen frontline primary care.

You cannot transform rural health without investing in the providers delivering most of the care. RHTP’s success depends on whether policymakers close this gap before disparities widen further.

Read our full analysis on our Substack:
https://adv4commhealth.substack.com/p/rural-health-transformation-fund