Technology & Infrastructure Initiative (part of Pennsylvania Rural Health Transformation Plan)

Technology & Infrastructure Initiative (part of Pennsylvania Rural Health Transformation Plan) is sponsored by Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. This initiative, part of Pennsylvania's broader Rural Health Transformation Plan, aims to modernize statewide data exchange and digital care, including supporting telehealth to enable residents to see a doctor from home.

It focuses on fostering the use of innovative technologies that promote efficient care delivery, data security, and access to digital health tools by rural facilities, providers, and patients.

Rural Health Transformation Plan | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Rural Health Transformation Plan Summary Download PA's Rural Health Transformation Plan Transform rural health through regionally led, technology-enabled models that strengthen local capacity and sustain high-quality, evidence-based care driven by continuous learning and innovation.

</p>\r\n"}}"> Transform rural health through regionally led, technology-enabled models that strengthen local capacity and sustain high-quality, evidence-based care driven by continuous learning and innovation.

$200,000,000 per year x 5 years = $1,000,000,000</p>\r\n"}}"> $200,000,000 per year x 5 years = $1,000,000,000 Sub-Awardee Organizations: Eight of Pennsylvania’s Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance regions: Central, South Central, Southern Alleghenies, Southwest, Northwest, North Central, Northern Tier, Northeast; PA Area Health Education Center (AHEC); University of Pittsburgh-Medicaid Research Center; and other state and community partners.

</p>\r\n"}}"> Eight of Pennsylvania’s Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance regions: Central, South Central, Southern Alleghenies, Southwest, Northwest, North Central, Northern Tier, Northeast; PA Area Health Education Center (AHEC); University of Pittsburgh-Medicaid Research Center; and other state and community partners.

Pennsylvania’s RHTP addresses all five Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) goals:</p>\r\n"}}"> Pennsylvania’s RHTP addresses all five Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) goals: We propose innovations that directly respond to the most pressing health priorities identified over the past two years by rural stakeholders through dozens of listening sessions, roundtables, and <a href=\"/content/copapwp-pagov/en/agencies/dhs/programs-services/healthcare/rural-health/events.

html\">regional health summits</a>, as well as through the state’s rural health improvement plans and more than 300 responses submitted through our <a href=\"/content/copapwp-pagov/en/agencies/dhs/programs-services/healthcare/rural-health. html\">Rural Health website</a> by stakeholders.

Common themes include maternity care, behavioral health, dental care, aging, and primary and preventive care, areas that have been shown to reduce chronic disease, provide more years of healthy life, and decrease reliance on costly hospital care.

</p>\r\n"}}"> We propose innovations that directly respond to the most pressing health priorities identified over the past two years by rural stakeholders through dozens of listening sessions, roundtables, and regional health summits , as well as through the state’s rural health improvement plans and more than 300 responses submitted through our Rural Health website by stakeholders.

Common themes include maternity care, behavioral health, dental care, aging, and primary and preventive care, areas that have been shown to reduce chronic disease, provide more years of healthy life, and decrease reliance on costly hospital care.

We propose to establish eight regional Rural Care Collaboratives (RCCs) through Pennsylvania’s Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance organizations, which lead regional coordination and strategic investment in economic development.

Each RCC will bring together community and health system partners to prioritize local needs, strengthen shared services, expand telehealth and clinical integration, and ensure residents have consistent access to high-quality primary and specialty care.

</p>\r\n"}}"> We propose to establish eight regional Rural Care Collaboratives (RCCs) through Pennsylvania’s Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance organizations, which lead regional coordination and strategic investment in economic development.

Each RCC will bring together community and health system partners to prioritize local needs, strengthen shared services, expand telehealth and clinical integration, and ensure residents have consistent access to high-quality primary and specialty care. Underlying all rural health concerns is the need for significant investments and innovations in workforce development.

We propose expanding the full spectrum of the rural health care workforce including allied health, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), nursing, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists, and physicians through ruralfocused training programs that target identified gaps in care.

This will be accomplished by upfront scholarships, mentoring, short-term housing, stipends, and investments in the rural health provider training pipeline, with five-year rural health service commitments. </p>\r\n"}}"> Underlying all rural health concerns is the need for significant investments and innovations in workforce development.

We propose expanding the full spectrum of the rural health care workforce including allied health, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), nursing, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists, and physicians through ruralfocused training programs that target identified gaps in care.

This will be accomplished by upfront scholarships, mentoring, short-term housing, stipends, and investments in the rural health provider training pipeline, with five-year rural health service commitments.

We will provide data and analytic support to the RCCs to analyze the impact of innovative digital models of care delivery, flexible care, alternative payment models, and “right-sizing” rural hospitals to shift care to lower cost settings, while improving access to essential health care services.

</p>\r\n"}}"> We will provide data and analytic support to the RCCs to analyze the impact of innovative digital models of care delivery, flexible care, alternative payment models, and “right-sizing” rural hospitals to shift care to lower cost settings, while improving access to essential health care services. 5.

Technological Innovation: We will scale promising consumer-facing applications, telehealth, technology-enabled, and AI solutions to improve care and efficiency and lower costs. We will invest in digital and informational technology infrastructure to allow for clinical integration of electronic health records (EHRs).

</p>\r\n"}}"> We will scale promising consumer-facing applications, telehealth, technology-enabled, and AI solutions to improve care and efficiency and lower costs. We will invest in digital and informational technology infrastructure to allow for clinical integration of electronic health records (EHRs). Download PA's Rural Transformation Plan