Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas is preparing to distribute hundreds of millions of dollars aimed at transforming healthcare access in rural communities, as Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that the first application process is now underway for funding through the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program.
The program includes $209 million currently allocated to Arkansas for 2026 and is tied to President Donald Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill. State officials expect Arkansas to receive more than $1 billion in total funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program over the next five years.
The first round of funding will focus on the Telehealth, Health-Monitoring, and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion initiative, also known as THRIVE. Officials say the initiative is designed to modernize healthcare delivery in rural areas by expanding telehealth services, improving emergency medical response systems, and increasing the use of remote patient monitoring technology.
A total of $55.6 million will be awarded through the THRIVE initiative alone, while additional funding opportunities connected to the broader program are expected to roll out over the next 90 days. State leaders anticipate that the entire $209 million allocated for Arkansas in 2026 will be awarded by this fall.
“Last year, with the passing of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, President Trump and his administration delivered a nationwide mandate to Make America Healthy Again, and thanks to the nearly $210 million awarded to Arkansas so far, we will be able to help people where they need it most,” said Governor Sanders. “Rural communities make up a significant portion of the Natural State, and these funds will help ensure that all who call them home have access to critical medical assistance they need and deserve.”
State leaders focus on long term healthcare improvements
Arkansas Secretary of Finance and Administration Jim Hudson said the funding could reshape healthcare access for future generations, especially in communities where medical resources remain limited.
“This program, in combination with the Governor’s ongoing health initiatives, has the capacity to create generational change throughout rural Arkansas,” said Hudson. “For example, we will see increased access to care through more mobile units and new, improved technology to reach patients where they are. I look forward to working closely with Governor Sanders and stakeholders, with a common goal to improve the lives of our fellow Arkansans.”
Officials explained that the state worked closely with healthcare professionals and community leaders while designing the program’s priorities. Feedback was gathered from physicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, universities, nonprofit organizations, and other healthcare providers. The Department of Finance and Administration also hosted town hall meetings across Arkansas over the past two months to explain the program and application process.
Beyond THRIVE, the Rural Health Transformation Program includes three additional major priorities.
One initiative, Promoting Access Coordination and Transformation, or PACT, focuses on bringing specialty care, preventative screenings, trauma services, and telehealth resources into rural communities while improving collaboration among healthcare systems.
Another effort, Recruitment Innovation Skills and Education for Arkansas, known as RISE AR, aims to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce. The program will support physician residency expansion, recruit healthcare professionals to underserved areas, and provide leadership training for rural hospitals and clinics.
The fourth initiative, Healthy Eating, Active Recreation, and Transformation, or HEART, is centered on improving health outcomes through nutrition, exercise, and chronic disease prevention programs.
Wide range of organizations eligible for funding
State officials said many types of organizations may apply for the funding, including rural hospitals, clinics, health systems with rural operations, federally qualified health centers, EMS providers, universities, faith-based organizations, pharmacists, nonprofit groups, and community partners.
Arkansas leaders say the funding effort builds on several health-related initiatives introduced by Governor Sanders over the past three years. Those initiatives include the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, which directed $45 million toward maternal health programs, as well as legislation requiring Arkansas public schools to provide free breakfast to all students regardless of income eligibility.
The governor has also promoted programs aimed at increasing access to healthier foods, including a farm-to-school initiative designed to bring fresh produce into schools. In addition, her administration pushed to remove taxpayer-funded soft drinks and candy from the state’s food stamp program.
Officials say the Rural Health Transformation Program could become one of the largest healthcare investments rural Arkansas has seen in years, with the potential to reshape how medical care is delivered in communities that have long struggled with limited access and shortages of healthcare providers.
