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An application to receive $1 billion from a federal rural health fund was submitted by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, the governor announced Wednesday. Sanders and department officials submitted their application Friday for the state's share of funding from the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, a provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump in July, according to a news release. Many policy experts, however, have said that the money won't offset reduced Medicaid spending called for by the legislation -- analysis from KFF projected that federal Medicaid spending would shrink by $155 billion during the next 10 years. Officials are seeking $200 million each across the current and next four fiscal years, although the release notes Arkansas may receive a different amount if its application is granted. "Improving the health and well-being of all Arkansans is a top priority for my administration," Sanders said in the release. "Thanks to President Trump and his One, Big, Beautiful Bill, the Rural Health Transformation Program will allow us to build on all we have done so far, like investing in maternal health, combating food insecurity, and promoting better health and nutrition statewide. This funding will not only help us increase access to care but will also reduce inefficiencies throughout the healthcare system, ultimately benefiting Arkansans in smaller communities across the state." Sanders sent a letter to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the end of September, opening proposals for its application shortly afterward. Arkansas' proposal is divided into four subsections -- "Healthy Eating, Active Recreation, & Transformation" (HEART), "Promoting Access, Coordination, and Transformation" (PACT), "Recruitment, Innovation, Skills, and Education for Arkansas" (RISE AR) and "Telehealth, Health-monitoring, and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion" (THRIVE). Of those, the THRIVE initiative would be the costliest, seeking $350 million for a series of four subprograms. The $150 million HEART initiative aims to create "a coordinated, community-driven approach to nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease management" and "rural health systems by integrating school programs, community-based initiatives, faith organizations, and healthcare education," officials said. The other two initiatives, budgeted at $250 million each, are targeted at health care personnel, training, services and care coordination. "With a focus on education, prevention and access to care, this program will change the health of generations of Arkansans," Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration Secretary Jim Hudson said in the release. "I am thankful for Governor Sanders' leadership and vision in shaping the application." The full application can be viewed here. Check back for updates.
