This ad hoc committee of the OHA Board of Trustees was formed to make recommendations on the Ohio transformation plan and distribution of resources from the Rural Health Transformation Fund.

The federal reconciliation bill signed into law July 4 included $50 billion for the Rural Health Transformation Fund. The funding is to be used to implement a Rural Health Transformation Plan, which includes improving access, outcomes, prevention and chronic disease management, clinician recruitment and retention, and other strategies for rural residents.

The $50 billion is to be allocated in two ways:

• 50% ($25 billion, $5 billion per year) equally distributed among all states with an approved application — assuming all 50 are approved, that’s $500 million over five years ($100 million each year) for Ohio hospitals.
• 50% ($25 billion) distributed on a formula basis established by the CMS administrator. The formula is to be based on the: percentage of state population in a rural census tract; state’s proportion of rural health facilities relative to the nation; situation of hospitals in the state which serve a disproportionate number of low-income patients with special needs; and any other factors per the CMS Administrator — this will be a variable amount, TBD on actual allocation.