Arkansas will open applications May 11 for $209 million in federal funding to support rural health programs in the state. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that an initial $55.6 million will go to the Telehealth, Health‑Monitoring and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (THRIVE) initiative, which is intended to create better patient access to more modern systems, including telehealth, emergency response and monitoring for chronic conditions.
The funding is a result of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) portion of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill that was signed into law July 4, 2025. Following this round, the state will announce additional funding over the summer, with the balance of the $209 million being awarded by fall.
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) will administering the program. DFA officials and Gov. Sanders expect the state to receive more than $1 billion from RHTP over the next five years, and characterize the funding as being a catalyst for generational change in the way rural health care is delivered.
Other initiatives supported in addition to THRIVE are Promoting Access Coordination and Transformation (PACT), which brings big city specialty care to small clinics and patients by using digital connectivity and tailoring services to fit community needs.
Recruitment Innovation Skills and Education for Arkansas (RISE AR) will promote the workforce training necessary for serving patients in a rural area. This includes incentives to recruit individuals for training.
Healthy Eating, Active Recreation, and Transformation (HEART) seeks to not only prevent chronic disease, but to create better outcomes for those with chronic conditions through community led nutritional and physical activity guidance.
Eligible applicants for RHTP funding include rural hospitals, clinics, and health systems, as well as faith-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, EMS providers, pharmacists, universities and other nonprofit and community organizations. Types of applicants may vary from one type of program to another. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) gives an application deadline of June 12 for THRIVE funds, and funds will be distributed on a rolling basis.
Of Arkansas’ 1.3 million residents, 45% live in rural areas, with an annual income just over $50,000. This funding targets rural high need areas like the Ozarks, the Southwest and the Delta, where there is a higher instance of chronic disease and less available medical care.
Photo by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay
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