Strengthen Rural Primary Care, Prevention, Chronic Disease Management, Specialty Care Access, Dental, and Pediatrics: Support rural health innovations and new health care access points to promote access to primary care, chronic disease management, preventative health, dental, pediatrics, the integration of behavioral health, SUD and primary care, and address root causes of diseases. Projects will use evidence-based outcome-driven interventions to improve disease prevention, chronic disease management, and access to behavioral health, primary care, and prenatal care.
Strengthen Rural Hospitals: Support rural hospitals through innovative payment models, regional partnerships, and service redesign so they remain anchors of local health care and community resilience.
Strengthen Community Behavioral Health: Expand cross-collaboration within the New Hampshire Community Mental Health Center system and expand mental health integration within primary care through technological advancement and alignment of workforce, infrastructure, technology, and access supports.
Ready Access to Health (EMS Redesign, transportation, living at home, and mobile integrated health): Modernize EMS systems to ensure reliable, sustainable coverage in rural areas and to expand EMS's role in prevention and chronic care management. Transition from a fragmented rural transportation system to a robust sustainable rural transportation system through strengthened transportation workforce, health care transportation coordinators, and investments in technology and infrastructure.
Technology Innovation: Foster use of innovative technologies that promote efficient care delivery, data security, and access to digital health tools by rural facilities, providers, and patients. Projects support access to specialty care in rural areas through telehealth, remote care, improve data sharing, strengthen cybersecurity, and invest in emerging technologies including clinical and administrative AI.
Invest in Workforce and Local Capacity: Recruit, train, and retain all levels of rural health care workforce, while appropriately expanding scope of practice and creating pipelines for future rural providers.
Transition to Sustainable Payment Models: Move beyond fee-for-service reimbursement methodologies by adopting value-based and alternative payment models that reward prevention, care coordination, and reduced hospitalizations.