The Rural Health Transformation Program: The Imperative Role of State Developmental Disability Agencies
Across the country, states are receiving new federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), an initiative designed to strengthen health care access and outcomes in rural and underserved communities. With award amounts now announced, states are moving quickly to design and implement their plans.
For state developmental disabilities agencies, this presents a critical opportunity to help ensure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are included in these efforts from the outset.
What Is the Rural Health Transformation Program?
Authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21), RHTP provides states with significant funding and flexibility to improve rural health systems. While approaches will vary, common priorities include:
- Expanding access to care
- Improving care coordination and quality
- Strengthening the health workforce
- Addressing health disparities
- Advancing technology and innovation
States now have important decisions to make about priority populations, partnerships, and performance measures.
Why This Matters for State DD Systems
People with IDD in rural communities often experience compounded challenges, including limited access to clinicians with IDD expertise, long travel distances, and fragmentation between health care and home and community-based services (HCBS).
State DD agencies play a key role in bridging these systems. Without intentional collaboration, there is a risk that RHTP investments will move forward without fully addressing the needs of people receiving HCBS and other disability services.
Opportunities for State Leadership
As RHTP plans are developed, state DD agencies can help ensure alignment by:
- Partnering with Medicaid and public health agencies involved in RHTP planning
- Elevating people with IDD as a priority population within state strategies
- Bringing HCBS and disability service providers into cross-system discussions
- Sharing data and insights on health disparities and service gaps in rural IDD populations
- Encouraging integration between health care delivery and long-term services and supports
Early engagement can help shape not only funding decisions, but also long-term system design.
How IntellectAbility is Supporting IDD Inclusion in RHTP Efforts
IntellectAbility is working to support states and providers in advancing more inclusive health systems. Through tools, training, and data-driven approaches, IntellectAbility helps identify health risks, strengthen quality improvement efforts, and build workforce capacity to better support people with IDD.
These resources can complement state RHTP initiatives by helping ensure that people with IDD are meaningfully included in care models, quality strategies, and outcome measurement. Learn more here.
Looking Ahead
RHTP represents one of the most significant recent investments in rural health. With thoughtful collaboration, it can also serve as a catalyst for better integration between health care and disability services.
State DD agencies have an important role to play in ensuring these efforts lead to meaningful improvements in health outcomes for people with IDD. Prioritizing inclusion now can help build more responsive, equitable systems for the future.
Together, let’s get #IDDinRHTP.