NASHP Conference Highlights State Lessons on Rural Health Funding
In a recap of its 2026 Annual Conference, NASHP reports that state leaders from Alaska, Virginia, and a rural Tennessee FQHC shared early lessons from implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a federal funding stream aimed at strengthening rural health infrastructure. Sessions covered community trust-building, sustaining investments beyond the program's five-year window, and ensuring smaller rural providers aren't excluded from grant opportunities due to limited administrative capacity. Leaders also discussed how changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are compounding financial pressures on rural health systems, including hospital closures and maternity care deserts. NASHP says it will continue supporting states in aligning RHTP funding with existing rural health priorities such as maternity care, primary care, and chronic disease management.