Put transformation funding to work for care.

Rural providers need more capacity for care, not another administrative system to manage.

The Rural Health Transformation Program offers an opportunity to consider reusable integration, testing and support as part of approved efforts to reduce provider burden. Start with the work a practice needs help doing, not a technology purchase in search of a use.

Invest in work that the next provider can reuse

A supported EHR integration, a shared test, a practical operating arrangement or a training resource can help more than the first organization using it.

Work with HIEs, hospital and provider associations, existing vendors and the organizations delivering care. Keep useful systems and relationships in place.

Make participation practical for smaller teams

Some practices need help configuring a workflow. Others need testing, training or ongoing operation because they do not have a dedicated infrastructure team.

A sponsor can evaluate purchasing that defined assistance, including Gateway operation where appropriate. The program should make clear which services are covered, for how long and what the provider needs to do when the funded period ends.

A state or other sponsor can contract for defined implementation, provider-enablement or operating work. The agreement identifies the organizations served, deliverables, term, payment conditions and funding requirements. That purchase does not create an access fee for participating plans or providers, and does not give the sponsor superior Network rights.

Measure less burden, not just more installations

Did the request work? Was required information easier to supply? Could the practice see the response? Were fewer calls, repeated submissions or manual checks needed?

Include the time and cost borne by providers and delivery partners. The goal is reusable capability and staff capacity returned to care.

Start with the market you already have

Delaware is bringing public leadership, DHIN, plans, providers and technology partners together around prior authorization. Other states can consider what work is reusable and where their own providers need support.

Initial convening and shared learning do not require a new SHN procurement or program budget. A funded implementation is a separate decision, with its own deliverables, costs and responsibilities.

Funding eligibility and procurement depend on the particular award and approvals. This page does not establish that a specific service is an allowable RHTP cost.

References to CMS, HHS, or CMS-0057 describe federal programs and requirements; Smart Health Network is not endorsed by CMS or HHS.